The 2021 vintage delivers yet another stunning blend with trademark Pessimist flair. This wine is powerful and intensely aromatic out of the glass, presenting fragrances of blueberry, boysenberry and black plum. Secondary layers reveal elderberry, truffle, cocoa and cardamom spice accented by hints of eucalyptus, leather, cherry pipe tobacco and grilled meats. Broad and expansive on the palate, it bestows lush, generous flavours of black cherry, blueberry, crème de cassis and damp forest floor. Hints of lavender, anise and black olive complement the rich, ripe fruit flavours. Massive in weight yet elegantly structured, this wine is a powerhouse that reveals itself gradually yet deliberately. It finishes smoothly with leisure and length, on notes of blackberry, espresso bean and pomegranate.

Assemblage: 75% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 2% Lagrein and 2% Malbec
Barrel Ageing: 10 months in 60% new French oak
Alcohol: 14.9%

The Daou Vineyards and Winery are situated in a breathtaking setting among the hills of the Adelaida district in San Luis Obispo County, to the western portion of Paso Robles.

This Paso winery is owned and operated by the Daou family. Lebanon born Georges and Daniel Daou purchased the then named Hoffman Mountain Ranch vineyard (once consulted by legendary enologist André Tchelistcheff, in the early 60s) in 2007, and have taken the winery from strength-to-strength ever since.

Daou winery primarily focuses on supreme Cabernet Sauvignon wines - a range of single varietal wines as well as Bordeaux blends. They farm Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay among others.

These grapes benefit from the unrivalled terroir of the 'Daou mountain', a stunning promontory at an elevation of over 2,000 feet in the Adelaida district of California, allowing for optimum exposition, drainage and ultimately ripeness in the grapes, all the while retaining acidity and freshness.

"The 2021 Pessimist is a blend of 75% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 2% Lagrein and 2% Malbec matured for 10 months in 60% new French oak. It has an opaque ruby-purple color and lush scents of cassis, blueberry jam, violet, lavender and hints of powdered sugar. The full-bodied palate is supple and fresh with gently candied fruits and a satisfying finish. This will be a crowd-pleaser. Drink to 2025.
92 points."
(Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate, December 2022)

93 points, Editor's Choice - The Wine Enthusiast