DAOU Central Coast Pinot Noir 2019

Drink now or cellar for up to 9 years. No need to decant before serving. This graceful and perfectly-balanced Central Coast Pinot is bursting with cherry, redcurrant, strawberry and rose petal notes along with deeper notes of toasted oak, dried herbs and African violet. The silky smooth texture and medium body combine beautifully with the rich red fruit, ending in a pure, clean finish seasoned with black olive, cigar box spice and truffle which linger long on the tongue. This sophisticated cool climate Californian Pinot is the handiwork of Daniel Daou who has decades of experience of working with many of the region’s finest plots for growing Pinot Noir such as Solomon Hills and Gary’s Vineyard. This new release is crafted from a selection of Daniel’s favorite vineyards on the coast where the nearby Pacific Ocean provides plenty of cooling breezes and fogs to help lock in delicate aromatics and freshness in the grapes. Daniel and his brother Georges founded DAOU in the Santa Rita hills after falling in love with wine when they fled their native Lebanon for a new life in France. Later the brothers found themselves living and working in the USA, and it wasn’t long before they had discovered this exceptional hillside property which has been described by legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff as “a jewel of ecological elements”. Over the years the brothers have made their mark on the California wine scene thanks to their skilful winemaking inspired by the classic wines of France and their Lebanese homeland.

Price: £24.62 from 8wines UK