Patrimony Estate "Caves de Lions" Red 2019
(Adelaida District, Paso Robles, California) - [TP 99] [WA 99] [JD 96-98] [JS 97] [DM 97]

About the Winery:
In the Santa Lucia Mountains west of Paso Robles is a gem cut from the rough of the coastal forest, ascending into the skyline with pyramidal grace. This is DAOU Mountain, in the Adelaida District.

Patrimony is rooted in the mountain's unmatched alchemy of soil, aspect and climate, and realized through meticulous vinification of our most noble vineyard rows. The phenolics produced here are known to be among the highest in the world, fostering an immensity of color, depth and structure that is only enhanced by the rigorous viticulture required to make Patrimony.

Winemaking:
Patrimony fruit undergoes state-of-the-art optical sorting to ensure absolute flavor integrity. Fermentation proceeds exclusively with wild yeasts cultured from DAOU Mountain, imbuing the wine with native texture and character. The wine is made entirely from free-run juice. Maturation unfolds for 30 months in rare French oak barrels prized for their fine grain and distinctive elegance. Only after further aging in the bottle for one year do all of these aspects coalesce into complete symmetry. The result is a most pure expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape —abundantly layered, extravagant in depth, and intricately poised to the end.

Tasting Notes

Ink Purple in color, this wine that comes from the homes of Daniel and Georges DAOU, provides the deepest expression of a marriage between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. At the first sip, the density of this wine strikes you as something ethereal. On the nose, you are mesmerized with scents of rose petals, cigar box, blackberry Jam, Dark cherries, hibiscus, stone fruit, vanilla and dark chocolate. The tannins are soft and supple with an underlying power that spells elegance throughout the entire tasting experience. The middle palate is balanced and delivers a smooth transition between the attack and the finish. The finish won’t stop while keeping the wine fresh and vibrant.

99 Points - Tasting Panel:
"This truly world-class blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Cab Franc continues to impress. It possesses an in- comparable mouthfeel, setting a benchmark for the region. Its sultry, round, violet- and cocoa-kissed tannins engage with a plum-pudding effect. The body weight is perceptible, engaging with a gliding wash of kirsch and black pepper to make for a silky, textural dream." 

99 Points - Wine Advocate:
"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." Drink 2024-2044. - Erin Brooks (December 2022)

97 Points - James Suckling:
"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." (December 2022)

97 Points - Decanter:
"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." - Brianne Cohen (February 2023)

96-98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"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." (September 2021)