DAOU Reserve Paso Robles Merlot 2022

Deep and dark aromas of charred walnut and caramel-drizzled baked fruits show on the nose of this seriously considered Merlot. The palate is viscous and toasty, offering mocha, pecan crumble and baked berry flavors.

The 2022 Merlot Reserve opens with a dramatic blend of wild blueberries, sweet sage, stone dust and shavings of blood orange. Deeply textural, it offers silken waves of ripe red and blue fruits, offset by a subtle sour citrus tinge toward the close. An herbal resonance and nuance of dark chocolate emerge as it tapers off with rounded tannins and a pleasantly bitter sensation that lingers. This is the first vintage of the Merlot Reserve, and it is certainly worth checking out.