Darioush
Darius II Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
First time trying a wine from Darioush, so all we were expecting was a fruit forward wine with a ton of tannins. Wine was a deep garnet or crimson red. Even on the nose this wine was fruit forward with purple floral undertones. Clean too, very nice and refreshing to smell. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) with a moderate plus body that grabs your entire palate as it passes through with a slight floral edge. Do not forget the powerful dark fruits in this wine either, there are a ton. Lots of structure but needs time to fully integrate and become a wine on another level. If you drink now, give it at least 4 to 6 hours in the decanter. Drink till 2028.
Rating: 93+
First time trying a wine from Darioush, so all we were expecting was a fruit forward wine with a ton of tannins. Wine was a deep garnet or crimson red. Even on the nose this wine was fruit forward with purple floral undertones. Clean too, very nice and refreshing to smell. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) with a moderate plus body that grabs your entire palate as it passes through with a slight floral edge. Do not forget the powerful dark fruits in this wine either, there are a ton. Lots of structure but needs time to fully integrate and become a wine on another level. If you drink now, give it at least 4 to 6 hours in the decanter. Drink till 2028.
Rating: 93+
No decanting . Big and dry . Deep purple.
No decanting . Big and dry . Deep purple.
Jul 6th, 2022
Garnet in the glass. Cedar, leather and graphite on the nose. After a four hour decant plum, raspberry and framboise fruit notes set off by fairly intense tannins. Definitely needed the decant to let the fruit shine. Secondary notes of chocolate and bell pepper. Finish is moderately long with game, white pepper and herbal notes. Has plenty of structure for the long haul (5+ more years) though my guess is the fruit will fade long before the tannins. Outstanding effort from one of my favorite wineries.
Garnet in the glass. Cedar, leather and graphite on the nose. After a four hour decant plum, raspberry and framboise fruit notes set off by fairly intense tannins. Definitely needed the decant to let the fruit shine. Secondary notes of chocolate and bell pepper. Finish is moderately long with game, white pepper and herbal notes. Has plenty of structure for the long haul (5+ more years) though my guess is the fruit will fade long before the tannins. Outstanding effort from one of my favorite wineries.
Nov 25th, 202011 years old, and I think this one is showing its age nicely. I don't think the nose is either older or younger than the palate but there is definitely a lot there!!! Entry with blackberry, baking chocolate, graphite and some herb. Still has some astringency at the finish, so I think the best days of this wine are still ahead of it. Went well with wasabi peanuts as the heat on the wasabi brought out a bloody iodine character. A full-bodied classic Napa Cabernet! Definitely a well-made wine with great structure and still with incredible potential, and my thanks to Joe for opening!
11 years old, and I think this one is showing its age nicely. I don't think the nose is either older or younger than the palate but there is definitely a lot there!!! Entry with blackberry, baking chocolate, graphite and some herb. Still has some astringency at the finish, so I think the best days of this wine are still ahead of it. Went well with wasabi peanuts as the heat on the wasabi brought out a bloody iodine character. A full-bodied classic Napa Cabernet! Definitely a well-made wine with great structure and still with incredible potential, and my thanks to Joe for opening!
Aug 24th, 2019
Big fruit. Lovely 2008. Thank you Dave and Susie Turner
Big fruit. Lovely 2008. Thank you Dave and Susie Turner
Mar 11th, 2018
Unreal. My favorite bottle of the night. Still have some sleep to go but rounding into an amazing form.
Unreal. My favorite bottle of the night. Still have some sleep to go but rounding into an amazing form.
Dec 26th, 2017Big and bruising - enjoyable now if you like deep tannins and fruit forward. Less restraint than usual for a Darius II but in no way a lesser expression of this wine. The stuff is definitely there for long term collaring but secondary flavors are already showing nicely despite the depth of tannins.
Big and bruising - enjoyable now if you like deep tannins and fruit forward. Less restraint than usual for a Darius II but in no way a lesser expression of this wine. The stuff is definitely there for long term collaring but secondary flavors are already showing nicely despite the depth of tannins.
Oct 2nd, 2016good structure. still young. for my pallette still a little hot on the nose, but good tanins, berry, and more potential. will be even greater in a few years.
good structure. still young. for my pallette still a little hot on the nose, but good tanins, berry, and more potential. will be even greater in a few years.
Dec 26th, 2015Very very intense. Intense nose, color and fruit concentration. Creamy tannins. This is a fun one
Very very intense. Intense nose, color and fruit concentration. Creamy tannins. This is a fun one
Sep 25th, 2014