2018 - Soul of a Lion, DAOU, Adelaida District

The 2018 Soul Of A Lion is an incredible Cabernet Sauvignon, made exclusively from free-run juice, blended with 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot and aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple in color, the nose opens slowly, segueing from graphite and tobacco leaves, to violets and blue fruit preserves, to cinnamon, potpourri and dark spices. The palate is seamless and cashmere-like, with expansive, pure, mineral-laced fruits enlivened by a burst of freshness that highlights the perfectly ripe fruit character this vintage. The finish is very long, offering violet perfume and iron tones that linger in the mouth. This is a gorgeous wine that combines unique personality with expert craftsmanship. It drinks well now but has all it needs for a long life in the cellar.

Dark purple. Intensely perfumed dark berry liqueur, exotic spice, incense, floral and licorice aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up hints of espresso and vanilla with air. Deeply concentrated, mineral-tinged cassis, blueberry, violet pastille and bitter chocolate flavors become livelier and take on a smoky nuance as the wine stretches out. Broad and youthfully chewy in texture, showing firm tension, impressive floral-dominated persistence and dusty tannins that lend solid closing grip. All new French oak.

If you are a Cabernet Sauvignon fan, it is hard to go wrong with this wine. Broad-shouldered and inky without a doubt, but the tannins will relax over the next few years and are already provide a great sounding board for the vibrant blueberry and cassis fruit. You get a blast of sweet cedar on the opening notes, with cocoa beans, a ton of liquorice, pencil lead and scorched earth, and a fragrant sage finish that adds delicacy and balance, making it really important to give time in the glass for this aspect to become clear. One of the longest seasons on record at Daou after a relatively cool end of season, and the last grapes came in during the third week of October. 100% new oak.