New Executives to Lead Global Charge for Cult Cabernet Sauvignon from DAOU Family Estates
DAOU Family Estates has announced the addition of four wine industry stars to lead the charge for Patrimony Estate, a breakout cult Cabernet Sauvignon from DAOU Mountain in the Adelaida District AVA of Paso Robles, California.
Chris Avery, Steve Palumbo, and Nicholas Holmes—all longtime veterans of Opus One and other iconic wineries—will drive global sales and marketing for Patrimony Estate, while Erik Johnson, former head sommelier at The French Laundry, will act as estate director.
“These four new leaders will be critical in taking Patrimony to new heights and introducing it to the world,” said Daniel Daou, co-proprietor and winemaker at DAOU Family Estates. “We could not be more excited and honored that they have chosen to join our family.“
Avery will serve as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Palumbo and Holmes will serve as vice presidents of sales for, respectively, the western and eastern United States. As estate director, Johnson will lead the cultural and experiential presence of Patrimony at the estate.
“My brother Daniel and I are thrilled to welcome these incredible talents to Patrimony Estate,” said Georges Daou, co-proprietor of DAOU Family Estates. “When they first realized the power of DAOU Mountain’s terroir and the energy surrounding it, they saw the future. They all felt compelled to be a part of the extraordinary passion and vision behind this phenomenon called Patrimony.”
Patrimony is a California “first-growth” Cabernet Sauvignon and the masterwork of winemaker Daniel Daou, who founded DAOU Family Estates with his brother Georges in 2007. On DAOU Mountain in the coastal mountains west of Paso Robles, the Daou brothers set out to establish the Adelaida District as the world’s next benchmark for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. “Patrimony delivers wines with incredibly high phenolic levels rarely achieved anywhere else in the world,” Daniel Daou said.
Patrimony Estate now takes its next bold step with the additions of Avery, Palumbo, Holmes, and Johnson.
“Together, these new Patrimony Estate leaders bring decades of unparalleled experience, relationships and expertise to our already incredible team,” said DAOU Family Estates President Neb Lukic. “Our finest, most coveted wine is now in the hands of the best in the business, and the sky is truly the limit.”
PATRIMONY REVIEWS
It has been proven that the phenolics on Daou Mountain, in the heart of the Paso Robles’ prestigious Adelaida District, are among the highest in the world. This speaks to the wines’ depth of hue, potency of flavor, and tremendous structure.
Daniel Daou has, from the beginning, led a pioneering effort in Paso Robles to create Bordeaux varieties in an inimitable style. Daou’s newest project is a new cosmos within the estate called Patrimony. Setting a standard for a California first-growth Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, these wines exhibit character that is as loyal to their terroir as they are unique on the world stage.
PATRIMONY 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($275)
An impossibly inky black liquid, with aromas of tilled soil, leather, soy sauce, and black plum. Creamy, silky, and intense, tannins coat the tongue with coffee-chocolate grit, smoothed out by ripe blackberries and heather. Dense and sturdy, its body remains ethereal, saturating the palate with anise, dark chocolate, and espresso. Aged for 30 months in the finest French oak barrels. 99—Meridith May
PATRIMONY 2017 Cabernet Franc, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($275)
There is something to be said about the nature of this variety in Paso, especially within the Adelaida District, which brings a distinct calcareous nature to its profile. Here, we found the best of its kind—augmented by the hand of Daniel Daou and his team. From the use of rare, super fine-grain, pink-oak French barrels, to the phenolic ferocity of its terroir, this royal purple-black liquid deserves a crown. Violets, persimmon, cigar leaf, orange peel, and a parade of blue and purple fruit join with chalky, finely grained tannins. Built like a skyscraper, its statuesque form is polished, with a streamlined, glassy mouthfeel. 100—Meridith May
