2019 Darius II Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Front-loaded with oak and fruit, all the hallmarks of Napa writ large. Luxurious and powerful, with vanilla oak and ripe plummy fruit persisting on the finish. Mocha and blackcurrant jam on the finish. Every bit the Napa archetype. (RH)
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
For statisticians, the impressively concentrated 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II includes 6% Merlot. Aged largely in new Taransaud-coopered barrels, it slowly gives up brooding notes of cedar, dark toast and dark chocolate, plus blackberries and plums. Full-bodied and tannic, this needs time in the cellar to soften a bit and—hopefully—reveal more nuance. For now, it's powerful, long and intense but a bit unremittingly dark in terms of its flavor profile.
More expensive, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot. This deep purple-hued effort offers a great nose of crème de cassis, scorched earth, charcoal, and leafy herbs, with some background chocolaty oak. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it's beautifully balanced, has ripe, present tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It's a powerful, beast of a wine from this team that's going to evolve for 15+ years.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II is possibly even less interesting than the Cabernet Sauvignon. This fruit simply needs much more care. And the bottle is obnoxiously heavy.
About the producer
Founded in 1997, Darioush is a top Napa Valley estate – with an unusual backstory. Owner Darioush Khaledi was born and raised in Shiraz, Iran, a literary city with a long history of wine production.