Winemaker Notes
Dark crimson hues shimmer in the glass. Concentrated aromas of plum, blackberry jam, blueberry, boysenberry and licorice are accentuated by hints of wildflowers, cedarwood, sage and wet stone. Bright tannins and mouthwatering acidity are balanced by sleek oak notes, all seamlessly interwoven into a symphony of blackberry, chocolate, pomegranate, tobacco and graphite. This full-bodied and flawlessly intricate wine will surprise you now with its elegance, and later with its longevity.
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Savory aromas of wild black fruit, tobacco leaves, cigar box and cooking spices. The palate is full-bodied with firm yet integrated tannins and bright acid carrying complex notes of blood plums, bramble berries, graphite and earth. A classically styled Bordeaux blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% cabernet franc A very complete and structured wine that will age for decades to come. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2021 Caves des Lions Patrimony opens with an imposing bouquet, dark and brooding. A smoldering blend of mocha-inflected blackberries and currants come together with grilled herbs, crushed rocks and a lifting hint of camphor. While velvety smooth and dense, there’s a fantastic energy within. Vibrant acidity propels citrus-tinged red and black fruits, all under an air of peppery rose and dark chocolate. Impactful and deeply complex, the 2021 leaves the senses stained with primary concentration, fine-grained tannins and a hint of blood orange and tart black cherry that linger impossibly long. Caves des Lions is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Why cross the Atlantic for a glass of wine from the Médoc when you enjoy the same experience from California's Central Coast? The 2021 Patrimony Caves des Lions roars with the best of them! This wine deftly combines Cabernet Sauvignon interwoven with Cabernet Franc. This wine displays layers of black fruits with cocoa and subtle spices making it an excellent pairing with a delicately spiced, oven roasted Porchetta. (Tasted: February 2, 2026, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Caves des Lions is a barrel sample of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. The nose is bursting with blueberry, baked plum, chocolate and violet aromas, plus latent nuances suggesting there's plenty more to emerge as this evolves. The full-bodied palate is expressive and inviting with floral fruit. It has plush tannins, juicy acidity and a long, graphite-laced finish. It is due to be bottled at the end of 2024.
Barrel Sample: 94-96
An ecological gem rising from the hills of the ascendant Adelaida District in California’s Paso Robles AVA, Patrimony Estate is blessed with exceptional terroir and the extraordinary conditions to create powerfully elegant wines that rival the world’s best Bordeaux producers.
Patrimony Estate is the creation of brothers Daniel and Georges Daou, proprietors of DAOU Vineyards & Winery. Hailing from Lebanon by way of Paris, France, Daniel and Georges moved to the United States as young men and soon achieved success in business. But that was just the beginning. They had a fearless goal—to produce wines that rival the best in the world, and to curate a lifestyle to match. From terroir to winemaking to architecture, they leave no detail unexplored. They have fulfilled that goal with Patrimony.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
