The 2022 Pessimist captures Daou's signature Paso Robles style from limestone-rich vineyards, blending Petite Sirah dominance with Zinfandel lift and Syrah structure for a bewitching, crowd-pleasing red. Hand-harvested grapes undergo native fermentation, followed by 10 months in 50% new French oak to weave vanilla, cedar and tobacco into the bold fruit core without heaviness. Opaque purple in hue, it balances power with elegance, reflecting the region's diurnal shifts.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Blueberry, boysenberry, black plum, lavender, truffle, cocoa, tamarind spice, cherry pipe tobacco, leather, mint and smoked meats.
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Palate: Bright and generous black cherry, cranberry, crème de cassis, pomegranate, lilac, anise and black olive with lush, silky mouthfeel.
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Finish: Dry, sustained and elegantly balanced with lingering blueberry, raspberry and subtle spice.
Awards and Accolades
Wine Enthusiast rated Daou Pessimist Red Blend 2022 at 92 points, praising its intensely aromatic nose of blueberry, boysenberry and black plum with deeper layers of lavender, truffle and cocoa, and a vibrant palate flooded with lush, silky textures. Ken's Wine Guide scored it 91 points (Very Good+), noting raisin, forest floor, black licorice and boysenberry aromas with a full-bodied, balanced mouthfeel of blackberry, plum pudding and tobacco.
Serving and Cellaring
Serve at 16–18°C after 30–60 minutes decanting to open aromas and soften initial tightness. Pairs with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, aged cheeses, rich pasta, steakhouse burgers or barbecue; cellars well through 2030, gaining earthy tobacco and leather notes.
Technical Details
Alcohol: 14.9% ABV.
Residual Sugar: Dry.
Closure: Cork.
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