Daou Estate Paso Robles Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
~14.8% ABV (verify on label) | 750mL | 2019 vintage | DAOU Mountain, Paso Robles, CA — DAOU Soul of a Lion 2019 is winemaker Daniel Daou's masterwork: a Bordeaux-style flagship from DAOU Mountain in Paso Robles' Adelaida District (2,200 ft elevation), made exclusively from free-run juice of optically sorted estate fruit — 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot — aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, including Daniel's proprietary 5-year-seasoned "bois rosé" staves.
The 2019 is a critical darling: Wine Advocate 97, Jeb Dunnuck 96, Decanter 96, Vinous 96, James Suckling 95. Wine Advocate calls it opaque ruby with dark savory cherry, chargrill, graphite, and rose-petal top notes; the palate explodes with chocolaty resolved tannins and seamless acidity into an exotic, spicy, extended finish. Grown, produced, and bottled by Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles — a collectible flagship from the brothers Georges and Daniel Daou, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
Dark purple-black, opaque ruby. Nose: lilac, violet, spice, dark cherry, chargrill, graphite, rose petals. Palate: blueberry, boysenberry, plum, vanilla bean, chocolate-covered cherry, crème de cassis, striking minerality. Finish: impossibly long, silky integrated tannins.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 97 points — Wine Advocate; also 96 JD, 96 Decanter, 96 Vinous, 95 JS
- 22 months in 100% new French oak — free-run juice only, optically sorted estate fruit
- From DAOU Mountain, the 2,200-ft Adelaida District terroir the Daou brothers staked their name on
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Decant 1–2 hours; serve at 60–65°F. Pairs with dry-aged ribeye, lamb, or aged cheeses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the blend in Soul of a Lion 2019?
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot — a Bordeaux-style blend, all estate fruit from DAOU Mountain.
What ratings did the 2019 vintage get?
Wine Advocate 97, Jeb Dunnuck 96, Decanter 96, Vinous 96, and James Suckling 95 — all for the exact 2019 vintage.
What is the alcohol content?
The back label reads 14.8% per Safeway's label text; distributor sheets print 14.5–14.7%. The physical bottle label wins — confirm when you see it.