Patrimony Estate Patrimony Caves des Lions 2020 750ml

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.

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. (Eric Guido)

Inviting aromas of black and blue fruits with violets, cedar, crushed stones and graphite. A little minty, too. The impressive, compact tannin structure gives depth to the wine, so fine and polished with some chalky texture to it. Stony minerality. Power and delicacy, simultaneously. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% cabernet franc. Really long and precise. Drink now or hold.

The 2020 Caves Des Lions comes from vines around the winemaker's house and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc brought up in new oak. Its inky hue is followed by a great nose of chocolatey dark fruits, espresso, Asian spices, tobacco, and earth. Full-bodied on the palate, it has notable purity of fruit and a great finish, with plenty of tannins.

More cassis, crushed stone, graphite, and chocolate emerge from the 2019 Caves Des Lions, and it’s beautifully textured, with full-bodied richness, building yet ripe, polished tannins, a gorgeous mid-palate, and one heck of a great finish. For all its richness and depth, it stays lively, fresh, and weightless, and it’s a beautiful wine.

The 2020 Caves Des Lions comes from vines around the winemaker's house and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc brought up in new oak. Its inky hue is followed by a great nose of chocolatey dark fruits, espresso, Asian spices, tobacco, and earth. Full-bodied on the palate, it has notable purity of fruit and a great finish, with plenty of tannins.