Straight Off the Bottling Line: DAOU New Releases

90
DAOU 2019 Rosé Paso Robles 13.7% $22
First, this wine gets top scores for its beautiful bottle. Second, it smells and tastes great, too. With its plentiful peach, nectarine and apricot pits, it's summer in a glass! Enticingly pure fruit on the nose leads to more of the same on the ample, lightly glossy and gossamer palate that shows a glimmer of ginger and allspice. Super sexy, this is highly drinkable on its own but does a fine job at the table, too.
Drink: 2020-22

Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou came of age on the Mediterranean shores near Cannes, where drinking dry and pale rosé is a way of life. Daniel employs what they call the "Méthode Provençal" to make their rosés, starting with Grenache grapes grown on limestone. The juice is vinified in barrels then sees lees stirring before bottling. 

89
DAOU 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles 13.7% $17
Light on its feet yet showing a tightly packed, solid fruit core, this is delightful Sauvignon Blanc. It tastes of yellow cherries, guava and quince paste. Its lightly caressing texture leads to a gentle finish with plentiful and youthful fruit. Integrated on the palate, the acidity rises on the finish to provide ample refreshment. I believe this is my first time tasting Daou Sauvignon Blanc, and I am impressed. It's a really good representation of Sauvignon Blanc, and it comes at a very reasonable price. Stock up!
Drink: 2020-21 

This is the second vintage of this Discovery-level wine, and it is surely here to stay, what with the DAOU brothers' affection for Bordeaux wines and varieties. More importantly, it's not possible to make a Sauvignon Blanc - or any wine, for that matter - that is this distinguished for just $17 without great terroir. They definitely got this right!