Patrimony Caves des Lions 2019 / 750 ml.

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. (Erin Brooks)

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)

The 2019 Caves des Lions is a barrel sample of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Cabernet Franc, made from free-run juice and set to age about 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby in color, it offers explosive cassis and purple flowers on the nose, with streaks of stony and green pepper character. The palate offers loads of perfume and exotic spice, with a chocolaty texture, seamless acidity and incredible length. (Erin Brooks)

Along the same lines, the 2019 Patrimony Caves Des Lions is slightly more voluptuous yet still has a beautiful minerality, full-bodied richness, awesome complexity and nuance, and a stunning finish. This flawlessly balanced, seamless barrel sample is another wine that marries power with elegance beautifully. (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. (Jeb Dunnuck)