Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaida District 2019

If we were to tell you that the Paso Robles could be the ‘New Napa’, would you believe us? To be fair, it took some convincing on our end as well, but the parallels are uncanny, and we have gotten our hands on one of the most exciting new brands from this sun-drenched, hilly region on the Central Coast of California. Patrimony deserves the attention of oenophiles worldwide. 

Unlike Napa, Cabernet is certainly not King in Paso Robles; it’s not even the jester. The region has historically focused mainly on Rhône varietals, but that’s been changing of late. A few pioneers, such as Napa’s André Tchelistcheff, even realized this as far back as the 1960s. He discovered “a jewel of ecological elements” at the Hoffman Mountain Ranch, which went on to produce notable wines and was widely considered the birthplace of modern winemaking in Paso Robles. Three decades later, a pair of Lebanese brothers, George and Daniel Daou, purchased the property after having spent years scouring all of California for the choicest acres for their Cabernet brand, Patrimony. The brothers began a top-to-bottom restoration of the original redwood winery, preserving a vital part of Paso Robles history. The torch that Tchelistcheff and the Hoffman family lit a half-century ago had officially been passed down, along with the responsibility to fulfill the mountain’s long-held promise. 

A colossal yet elegant expression of terroir, the 2019 Patrimony is an inky purple wine that delivers a complete experience from beginning to end. On the nose, it exhibits floral characteristics that include crème de cassis, violets, espresso roast, truffles, and chocolate. On the palate, it is very savory and contains notes of black fruit preserves, licorice, cooked blueberries, spice box, and fresh cigar. Additional aromas of crème de cassis, chocolate, and sweet oak accompany this full-bodied wine with supple, round tannins and an exceptionally long, silky finish. While lush and opulent, it is elegant and balanced, delivering a great deal of pleasure and complexity. Enjoyable now with a decant, yet also built for the long haul and could be laid down for several years.