2021 Darioush - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Caravan

Darioush Khaledi grew up in Shiraz, Iran, immersed in a family winemaking tradition that traces back thousands of years, before emigrating to the United States and building what became one of Southern California's largest family owned grocery chains. In 1997, he and his wife Shahpar turned that entrepreneurial success toward a lifelong dream, founding Darioush Winery on a site just south of the Stags Leap District. The winery building itself pays homage to Persepolis, the ancient Persian capital, blending Old World cultural heritage with New World winemaking ambition.

Caravan serves as the more approachable sibling to Darioush's flagship Signature wines, built around a Cabernet Sauvignon base with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Malbec or Petit Verdot rounding out the blend, in a style inspired by the classic estates of Bordeaux's Left Bank. The 2021 vintage benefited from a warm, structured growing season across Napa Valley, giving the wine ripe fruit and a firm tannic backbone while Darioush's winemaking team worked to preserve the polish and accessibility the label is known for.

The wine opens with juicy Damson plum, fig, and vibrant cherry, moving into a plush palate of red licorice, raspberry compote, and baker's chocolate with notes of lavender and green tea. It pairs beautifully with grilled filet mignon, wild mushroom demi-glace, or a dark chocolate torte.