Discovery Chardonnay 2020, Daou, Paso Robles

The 2020 Chardonnay presents luscious aromas of pineapple, pear and Granny Smith apple with appealing hints of lemon chiffon, nectarine and honeysuckle. As the experience unfolds, the nose further reveals hints of star jasmine, nutmeg and vanilla bean. The palate is plush and graceful, offering mouthwatering flavours of peach, mango, kiwi and fresh Crenshaw melon. The rich fruit is perfectly complemented by suggestions of lemon zest and baking spice, while a voluptuous finish lingers with notes of pineapple, guava and hazelnut.

Founded by brothers Georges and Daniel Daou in 2009, DAOU Family Estates was created with the vision to make California “first growth” wine. Located in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, DAOU Mountain provides the terroir to achieve this. Standing 2,200 feet above sea level, on calcareous clay soils that evoke Bordeaux’s Right Bank, the altitude supports the soils, providing the perfect terroir for the production of high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate was named a “jewel of ecological elements” by the father of modern American winemaking, André Tchelistcheff. The winemaking vision of DAOU Family Estates, falls under Daniel’s meticulous guidance, he is relentless in his pursuit of absolute fruit purity, implementing an array of proprietary techniques and technologies to create one of the most rigorously innovative winemaking programs in the world. This obsessive approach has not gone unnoticed – DAOU Family Estates was recently nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s American Winery of the Year.

Winemaker Daniel Daou has cultivated deep connections with families of growers for numerous vintages, allowing him to maintain absolute quality and consistency. The 2020 growing season began on a dry note, followed by much-needed rain in April that replenished the soils and set the stage for healthy canopy growth. Conditions through midsummer remained mild and steady, with the exception of a rare August thunderstorm. The wines of 2020 are marked by voluptuous mouthfeel with considerable flesh and power.