2019 Patrimony Caves des Lion

Robert Parker - 99

The 2019 Caves des Lions is a blend of free-run Cabernet Sauvignon (52%) and Cabernet Franc (48%) matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak and bottled in December of 2021. Opaque ruby in color, it has layered aromas of blackcurrant, lilac, graphite, fried savory herbs and game meats. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet balanced, its restrained, mineral-laced fruit complemented by mouthwatering acidity, and it boasts a long, graceful finish. Harmonious and latent, it will demand plenty of patience as it unwinds in bottle—the Patrimony wines tend to age at a glacial pace.

James Suckling - 97

Deep and fragrant nose with a lift of currant leaf freshness to the cassis, nori, Spanish chocolate, roasted jalapeño pepper, sumptuous blackberries and some cigar box. Full-bodied and compact on the palate with firm but ultra-fine tannins here that are powerful but not grippy. Long and juicy. 52% cabernet sauvignon and 48% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.

Decanter - 97

Pronounced aromatic intensity on a nose of dark fruits including blackberries, plus sweet wood, cigar box and toast. An almost impossible delicacy to this wine which was birthed from two powerful grapes and showcases the expert handling in the winery. Notes of coffee bean and dark chocolate round out the finish. Exceptionally well-rounded and showing all the structural elements for quality that one would expect from a wine at this level.

Vinous - 98

Wildly spicy and intense yet lifted, the 2019 Patrimony Caves Des Lions wafts up with an array of pepper-tinged wildflowers, spiced exotic tea, dusty dried herbs and red currant. A pretty inner sweetness up front accentuates its silken textures, further elevated by citrus and mineral nuances. Ripe red and black fruits resonate throughout. This finishes incredibly fresh yet structured, lingering impossibly long. Through it all, a tinge of residual acids maintains remarkable freshness.