Ratings & Tasting Notes:

99 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple in color, the Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II sparks both hedonistic and cerebral appreciation by exuding profound scents of preserved plums, blackberry compote, blueberry pie, kirsch and warm cassis with suggestions of candied violets, cigar box, Indian spices, and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, bold and decadently fruited in the mouth, the palate delivers rich black fruit and spicy layers with a firm yet velvety frame and an epically long, earth-laced finish. (12/2025)

97 points Jeb Dunnuck

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 rich, more black-fruited, concentrated 2022 that has remarkable purity and integrated acidity. (1/2026)

Cult Wines International Notes:

The 2022 Darioush Darius II Cabernet Sauvignon represents the “crown jewel” of an estate built on the Persian tradition of Taarof—the art of exceptional hospitality. Founded in 1997 by Darioush Khaledi, who grew up in the historic winemaking region of Shiraz, Iran, the winery is a modern architectural marvel that bridges ancestral Persian culture with Napa Valley viticulture. Darius II is the estate’s ultimate expression, released only in years of exceptional quality and adorned with labels featuring ancient Persian artworks curated in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The 2022 label features a mid-19th-century tile design from Tehran, reflecting the same intricate craftsmanship found within the bottle. Sourced predominantly from the estate’s high-elevation Sage Vineyard on Mount Veeder and cooler sites in Oak Knoll, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted to be a refined, age-worthy collectible that embodies the Darioush signature of power and poise.

The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley was a year of dramatic shifts, beginning with a wet winter that provided much-needed relief from a three-year drought. Spring and early summer were virtually textbook, with mild temperatures and ideal conditions for flowering that led to healthy, well-developed canopies. However, the vintage was defined by a historic and record-breaking heatwave that arrived over the Labor Day weekend in early September. While many valley floor vineyards faced extreme hydric stress, Darioush’s strategic holdings atop Mount Veeder and in the maritime-influenced southern valley provided a critical advantage. The high-altitude Sage Vineyard remained resilient, allowing the fruit to achieve total phenolic maturity and concentrated flavors while preserving the savory complexity and structural integrity that define the Darius II profile. The resulting wine is a triumph of selection and site, offering a lush, opulent character that reflects the intensity of the 2022 California sun.

Bottle Size: