TASTING NOTES—2008 Signature Merlot: Darioush

My family was happy to savor this '08 Napa Valley Merlot with our Christmas dinner.  In fact, this was a wine I picked up (per request) on my most recent visit to Napa (my experience of the winery here).

Tasting Notes

With just a sip of the wine, the Merlot has prominent notes of strawberry and spicy raspberry on the palette with soft tannins and subtle acidity but the Darioush website describes it best:   

"The moderate 2008 growing season yielded small amounts of mature, highly-concentrated Merlot. The resulting wine offers a profile of dense, expressive dark fruit, black raspberry, cherry and dried fig supported by a tight core of dark cocoa, licorice and cola. Sweet, succulent tannins add textural complexity, while a beautiful, long finish reveals notes of rosemary, cinnamon and graham cracker"

Winemaker's notes below:

{photo property of Darioush Winery, Napa Valley. Click for larger view}

Cheers,
B

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TASTING NOTES—2010 Singature Viognier: Darioush

{TASTING NOTES TUESDAY}

{photo property of Darioush Winery, Napa Valley. Click for larger view}

I went back to Napa last weekend for a fun day trip with some of my girlfriends. And as we were driving along Silverado Trail, Darioush was a winery we simply couldn't pass up. I tasted their Signature Flight, which included five of their signature wines: Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, and two vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon.
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This week I wanted to feature the Darioush 2010 Signature Viognier, mostly because this wine really stood out to me and I don't think I have had anything like it. One of the employees behind the bar even told me that people who come into Darioush who are not huge fans of white wines and choose usually to be red-wine drinkers end up leaving with a bottle or two with this Viognier--I definitely see this happening because this wine has so much complexity, is not sweet yet has a wonderful balance of acidity and floral, peach-cream and honey-suckle taste to it. AND, I totally regret not taking a bottle home with me! But you have to save something for next time, right? ;)
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Wine Spectator even said this wine is "very refreshing, showing a lip-smacking acidity that gives a fresh, vibrant feel to the apricot, peach, nectarine and citrus flavors. Wonderful purity and persistence mark the finish, punctuated by a terrific sleekness. Drink now." Gotta love it.
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Cheers,
B

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Winery Visit--Darioush

{18-foot tall columns that grace the entrance of the winery}

"Am I in Persia..or is part of Persia in Napa?" was my first question upon arriving to Darioush Winery. With its extravagance and ornate detailing, the winery resembles Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia. Let's just say that the property is... a bit over-the-top... (to say the least.) Nonetheless, the property grounds and architecture are stunning--a visit to Darioush is truly a unique experience.

The winery is set along the Silverado Trail, a road lined with many well-known wineries in Napa Vally. With a fine focus on producing their notable Bordeaux-style wines, (Side note: permitted grapes in Bordeaux are Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere) the winemaker at Darioush also produces wines from Chardonnay, Viognier, and Shiraz. Try the Signature Flight if you do a tasting--it includes five current release wines. The gem in that flight is definitely their Cab Sauv. Even Wine Spectator gives the 2007 Signature Cabernet Sauvingon 94 points, noting that the wine "tastes important right off the bat, although obviously young, with tannins hard as nails. New, smoky oak dominates, with themes of ripe concentrated blackberries and cassis. Needs time. best well after 2013, and should develop for years beyond." I say, cheers to that!

:)

-B

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