Patrimony Caves des Lions 2018

Professional Ratings

• 100 Tasting Panel

  Earthy scents of truffle and licorice tempt the palate, encouraging further investigation. Mint coats a deep, rich blackberry core. Black-tea and dark-chocolate tannins wrap around the tongue as crushed stone intertwines with dried heather, creating a chalky sensation. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cab Franc is almost more Bordeaux-like than Paso—but it’s arguably more Paso than any other wine in the world.

• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2018 Caves des Lions is powerful and velvety, a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Cabernet Franc made with free-run juice and aged 28 months in 100% new French oak. It needs plenty of air before unfolding to singular aromas of fresh tobacco leaves and mushroom powder, potpourri and bitter chocolate, shifting from savory fruit to stony mineral notes in the glass over time. The cashmere-textured palate offers youthful Morello cherries and spices, kaleidoscopic and persistent, its flavors lingering long after the last sip is gone. Rating : 98+

• 98 Jeb Dunnuck
  From vines around the winemaker's house, the 2018 Patrimony Caves Des Lions is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc that will see 28 months in new French oak. Lots of smoke tobacco, blackcurrants, chocolate, damp earth, vanilla bean, and Asian spices dominate the bouquet, and it has a pure, already complex style aromatically. Rich, full-bodied, and gorgeously textured on the palate, it's another winner that's going to drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 15+ years.
  96-98
• 96 James Suckling
  Extremely perfumed and bright with blackberry and blueberry character. Some dried tobacco, too. Full-bodied, tight and focused with savory flavor. Soft, fine tannins. Seaweed and soya to the dark-fruit flavors. Ripe fruit in the center palate. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years with bottle age. 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% cabernet franc.