Daou Vineyard Patrimony "Black Label" 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 vintage of Patrimony Estate Black Label is generally considered even more refined and complete than the 2018. The growing season in Paso Robles was cooler and longer, which gave the wine more freshness, acidity, and precision while still keeping the huge concentration Patrimony is known for.

Highlights of the 2019 Black Label:

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Only ~285 cases produced
15.0% ABV
Aged 30 months in elite French oak barrels

Typical tasting notes:

Black cherry, cassis, blackberry
Violet, graphite, cigar box, cedar
Dark chocolate, ash, licorice
Dense texture but with noticeably brighter acidity and lift than 2018

The structure sounds massive, but reviewers consistently describe it as surprisingly elegant:

Wine Enthusiast gave the regular 2019 Patrimony Cabernet 97 points and praised its “intense yet elegant” style.
Community reactions on Reddit also mention that the wine opens beautifully after a long decant and may still improve significantly with more bottle age.

Compared with 2018:

2018 = darker, more opulent, more overtly powerful
2019 = fresher, more aromatic, more polished and balanced

A lot of collectors actually prefer 2019 because it feels a bit more “Bordeaux-inspired” structurally while still being unmistakably modern California.

Drinking window:

You can drink it now with a 3–4 hour decant
Likely peak: ~2028–2048+
This is a serious cellar wine

Current market pricing is usually in the luxury tier:

• Roughly $500–700+ per 750ml depending on retailer and provenance