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Bottle of Darius II 2018

Darius II

The crown jewel of the Darioush estate, Darius II is a refined, age-worthy collectible which captures the singular and exceptional qualities of each vintage from our Napa Valley vineyards.

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V & A Museum

The Visual Hallmark of Darius II

In the spirit of sharing, Darioush and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum have joined together to feature ancient traditions in Persian Art. With collections unrivaled in their scope and diversity, the time-honored works selected from the V&A archives span thousands of years of creativity and capture the craftsmanship and integrity of Darius II.


Photograph: Grand Entrance, V&A, James Medcraft

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance. Established in 1852, its founding principle was to make works of art available to all, to educate working people and to inspire designers and manufacturers. The museum and its collections have continued to grow into one of the world’s great resources for the study of art and design; the V&A now houses a permanent collection of 2.8 million objects spanning 5,000 years from ancient times to present day.


Photograph: Grand Entrance, V&A, James Medcraft
Ornate textile
The Art

2019

This striking example of a luxury textile hails from 16th C Bursa, once considered the epicenter of the silk-weaving industry. Fabrics of this caliber were destined to become diplomatic gifts for dignitaries, ambassadors, and high-ranking religious figures from the Far East to Europe. This specific work depicts a symmetrical arabesque scroll, outlined by feathery leaves and trails of blossoms woven in precious metallic threads.

The pattern is punctuated with a beautiful pomegranate motif— a treasury of symbolism that transcends time and place, cultures, and religions. Emblematic of fertility and everlasting life due to its abundance of seeds, the pomegranate is an icon of unity, and in ancient Persia it symbolized the soul’s immortality and the perfection of nature.

Current Release

2019 Darius II

The Crown Jewel of the Darioush estate, Darius II captures the diverse and exquisite beauty within each vintage. With an uncompromising commitment to crafting a wine with complexity, composure and refinement, Darius II is the hallmark of the Darioush style.


Reserve this wine exclusively through our First Offering Membership.

“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.”

Jeb Dunnuck | Rated 97

Tasting notes

Acquire Darius II via the First Offering Membership

From a textbook vintage, 2019 Darius II seamlessly weaves together elegance and opulence with tremendous power. Brambly fruit flavors of black cherry and cassis are infused with toasted thyme, bay leaf and bittersweet cocoa for an exceptionally captivating mouthfeel. Silky smooth tannins frame the palate which reveals further notes of licorice, espresso crema and Tahitian vanilla. Chief contributions from our Sage Vineyard estate atop Mount Veeder gives this wine its exceptional depth and stature while maintaining its trademark savory complexity, polish, and composure.

Composition

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot

Cooperage

Aged 22 months in 80% new Taransaud Chateau Traditional French oak barrels

Winemaker

Hope Goldie

Appellation

Apadana Block - Darioush Estate, Napa Valley | Sage Vineyard - Mount Veeder

Availability

Exclusively for First Offering Members

Wine Fact Sheet

Download


Spring tapestry
The Art

2018

Observing the natural world first-hand and influenced by a study of historical patterns, London-born John Henry Dearle rose from Shop Assistant to Chief Designer of the legendary firm, Morris & Co. under the close tutelage of William Morris himself. Known as the father of progressive pattern in the Victorian era, Morris revived many practices lost to the passage of time— emphasizing the use of quality raw materials, natural dyes, and hand processing in textile and various art forms.

Dearle carried on this artistic ethos, and was deeply influenced by the traditional, ancient patterns of Persia. His undulant motifs convey strong symmetry with flourishes of color, aptly suited to the technique of weaving. Dearle’s 1890s masterpiece, Apple, designed for Morris & Co. now resides in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and is prominently featured on 2018 Darius II.

Previous Vintage

2018 Darius II

Fortitude and resilience best describe the 2018 vintage of Darius II. Following the devastating 2017 wildfires, we decided to forgo bottling our estate’s crown jewel for the first time ever. Perhaps it is Mother Nature’s need for redemption that the 2018 growing season was idyllic, a textbook season, for producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.

With dozens of beautiful barrel lots to choose from, our final blend included a small contribution of Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc complementing the gorgeous expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from our winery estate’s Apadana Block.

Available exclusively to existing
Darius II members.

view + reserve current release go to member exclusives

Demonstrating extraordinary composure, energy, and depth, 2018 Darius II is teeming with dense, vibrant flavors of cassis, black fruits, minerals, and a savory sage and wild thyme component.

Tasting Notes

The captivating aromatics consist of crushed blueberries, bay leaf, medium-roast coffee, and candied violets. Expressive in its youth, with refined, succulent tannins, 2018 Darius II will undoubtedly reveal further detail and elegance for the patient collector over a decade or two.

Composition

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc

Cooperage

Aged 22 months in 80% new Taransaud Chateau Traditional French oak barrels

Winemaker

Hope Goldie

Appellation

Apadana Block - Darioush Estate, Napa Valley | Sage Vineyard - Mount Veeder

Wine Fact Sheet

Download


Discover the Art

Since our very first vintage in 1999 a unique work has been selected to adorn Darius II, each highlights an ancient tradition in Persian art.

explore the label stories

Choose the cup bearer and the wine. Drink. Sing like the starling or the nightingale.

Rudaki

Choose the cup bearer and the wine. Drink. Sing like the starling or the nightingale.