Paso Robles is pouring with personality—and DAOU is leading the celebration!

Yesterday St Finesse put the pedal to the metal and celebrated these extraordinary wines from California’s Paso Robles region in style rarely seen in our town.

After a good hour of schmoozing and grooving to live jazz, while enjoying the view of Taipei 101 from the roof deck on the Grand Hyatt, we all sat down to listen to DAOU’s President, Neb Lujic—ably translated by Ting CHUANG—as he related the story of this amazing meteor-ride that is the saga of George and Daniel DAOU, the founders and owners of DAOU Vineyards.

It certainly hasn’t all been lucky, though I suppose luck is relative. The two boys were very nearly blown to pieces by a rocket during the civil war in Lebanon, but with difficulty they survived and made it to California, where they both became engineers and rose to success in the IT Industry. Their story reads like an archetype of the American dream.

Now their empire comprises a thousand acres of vineyards scattered across several Paso Robles AVAs, and perched atop DAOU Mountain in the Adelaida District, DAOU Vineyards crafts wines that are as bold and vibrant as the region itself. Their flagship, Soul of a Lion, isn’t just a wine—it’s a testament to striving for excellence that has earned their wine acclaim as the top premium red wine in the U.S.

Right in the heart of Paso Robles, DAOU benefits from unique calcareous clay soils that impart distinctive character to their wines. The calcareous clay on Mount DAOU is almost exactly the same as the soil in St Emilion, which similarity inspires the brothers to express their terroir through Bordeaux varieties, and they aren’t just boasting when they claim to make the best Bordeaux-style red wines in North America.

Experience the pinnacle of Paso Robles winemaking. Visit daouvineyards.com to explore their collection and plan your visit. Everyone is welcome.

Tasting Notes I Cribbed from the Presentation Slides:

DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Tasting Notes
Rich, layered, and unapologetically expressive. This wine opens with a deep swirl of blackberry, raspberry, and plum, dusted with hints of licorice, vanilla, and cherry. The palate is plush and polished—think dark berries dipped in chocolate, lifted by a savory thread of thyme and cedar. Tannins are firm yet silky, leading to a finish that’s long, structured, and quietly powerful.

At a Glance
• Alcohol: 15.2%
• Aging: 18 months in 50% new French oak
• Soil: Calcareous, loamy and fine
• Origin: Paso Robles

Vintage Snapshot
2022 kept the vineyard team on their toes. Early drought gave way to much-needed spring rains, saving the season and setting the stage for strong canopy growth. A heat wave in September pushed harvest forward, resulting in concentrated fruit and a wine that captures both strength and elegance—a true testament to skillful farming and patient winemaking.