The Lovers

Produced: 2010 - present

Professional reviews and tasting notes from prior vintages added as published (scores within parentheses indicate barrel samples):

2021

96 Points. These Lovers, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah were meant to be. This is elegant, lighter-bodied fare with a slick and slippery mouthfeel and flavors of cherry, blueberry, orange zest, and clove. Aromatically, it's a bowl of boysenberries and lavender drizzled with dark chocolate. Pour with tarot cards and a Zaz album. —Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast

96 Points. Presenting a brooding deep purple core with a neon red rim, it commences with complex aromas of freshly picked blackberries, blueberry pie, and blue plums alongside notes of toasted baking spices, sweet anise, and shades of cedar and vanilla. The Syrah gives it some of those meaty characteristics, which I love. Full-bodied with rich tannins and a lofty, enveloping mouthfeel, it finishes rich and long. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

95 Points. The Lovers is deep purple-hued with a more reserved, inward style that's going to reward bottle age. Ripe red and black fruits, iron, smoked tobacco, and freshly sharpened pencil notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, elegant red with silky tannins, plenty of accessibility and charm, and outstanding length. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15+ years. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. The Lovers displays an almost opaque core and deep magenta rim. The nose opens with notes of resinous purple flowers, baked plums, and black cherry skin essence with a subtle undertone of brown baking spices with cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is ripe, plush, and initially juicy before turning a touch tannic with notes of graphite and turned earth wading across the mid-palate. Slowly, the tannic grip releases, revealing soft, savory notes of dried herbs with a delicate backbone of sweet spices ... —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

95 Points. Thyme and crushed mint flavors mingle well with bright Bing cherry, wet stone, anise, and shades of steak tartare on the palate. Refined and generous with its broad mouthfeel, richness and length, this is a fabulous effort that is drinking marvelous now and will continue to produce enjoyment for another ten years. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

94 Points. The wine adds some blackberry plumpness to the muscular frame of Cabernet. Enticing savory, smoky aromas lead to black cherries, grilled plums, and singed herbs. Drinkable now but best from 2028. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2020

95 Points. A compelling mélange of black currant, cassis, plum, and sage makes the 2020 The Lovers a total pleasure on the nose. This is surprisingly fresh and nearly salty in style. Silky textures balance with tart wild berry fruit and brisk acidity that adds a sultry character. The 2020 finishes long yet only lightly structured, leaving an orange zest tinge and nuances of chalky blackberry. The Lovers is a seductive blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. —Eric Guido, Vinous

95 Points. Based on 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, the 2020 The Lovers reveals a semi-opaque ruby hue to go with rock-solid aromatics of red and black currants, sappy herbs, spring flowers, underbrush, and hints of peppered meats. Complex, medium to full-bodied, elegant, and finesse-driven on the palate, it's one of the riper, broader, more expansive wines in the lineup. I'd be happy to drink a bottle today, yet it's going to evolve gracefully for another 15+ years as well if well stored. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. The 2020 The Lovers combines 85% Cabernet Sauvignon the remainder Syrah. It is doing its Provençale inspiration right, with dried herbs, dark currants, blackberries and salted meats that meld together aromatically. The palate comes off very fresh and clean, with a smooth mouthfeel and wonderful concentration. Lightly stony and showing plenty of richness with oyster sauce, beef drippings and hints of orange peel, this is complex, delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that is best consumed now and over the next few years. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

95 Points. An exceptional blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah that is brought up in 30% new French oak barrels for 21 months. On the palate, the Lovers Bordeaux Blend is incredibly refreshing and clean. The smooth mouthfeel and deep concentration make for a treat in the mouth. Be prepared for flavors of boysenberry, black currant, umami, citrus zest, and singed cedary herbs, which add a wonderful sophistication to the wine. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

95 Points. Aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, cherry chocolate, dried strawberry bush, dried herbs, cloves and graphite. Medium- to full-bodied, wide and velvety, with layers of dusty tannins coating its dark-fruited core. Lingering and even. 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% syrah. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2019

95 Points. The 2019 The Lovers checks in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, and its deeper ruby/plum hue gives way to a plump, juicy, more forward wine offering lots of red and black currant fruits, notes of tobacco leaf, sweet earth, and graphite, medium to full body, and a rounded, textured, already delicious style on the palate. There's no harm in opening bottles today, yet it has 15-20 years of longevity. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. Rounded aromas of black cherries, iodine, nutmeg and dried flowers. Medium-bodied with soft, silky tannins. Juicy and fresh red fruit on the palate with good length, evolving into ground spice and black tea. Briny. Nicely nuanced. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. Drink now. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95 Points. The gorgeous 2019 The Lovers is a knockout blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Syrah. Ripe dark currants and red cherry compote combine with salted Kalamata olive and Provençal herbal notes that all dazzle in the glass... this delivers a gorgeous range of red and dark fruits with pipe tobacco, menthol and suggestions of wet stone and nori, displaying no rough edges. Enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next 10+ years. Drink 2022-2032. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

94 Points. The 2019 The Lovers opens slowly in the glass, delicate and nuanced, with a dusty mix of dried flowers, incense, currants, and wild blueberries offset by a hint of wet stone. This soothes with its silken texture and balance of vividly ripe fruits and stimulating acidity. As the name implies, this is almost sensual in character, supple and giving yet stimulating, leaving violet inner florals and hints of confectionary spice that mingle above a gentle tug of fine tannins. The Lovers is a truly seductive blend... —Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points. The 2019 The Lovers is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. The nose offers aromas of juicy, dark blackberry skin, a fresh element of dusty plum blossom and a soft savory essence. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a bright flavor profile with flashy black raspberry and blackberry tones before a delightful umami character appears across the mid-palate. The wine glides to a long, spicy and dusty finish with lingering notions of sandalwood and a firm, dusty and tannic edge. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

2018

97 Points. Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah, the deep ruby/purpl- hued 2018 The Lovers offers a rocking, Pauillac-like bouquet of blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has a terrific core of sweet red, black, and blue fruits, ripe tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's easily my favorite vintage of this cuvée to date, and it has another two decades of prime drinking ahead of it! —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. Blackberry, blackcurrant, whole peppercorn, tobacco leaf, cocoa and stone on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, finely knit and well-integrated tannins. Plush and polished with a rounded, supple feel. Textured and refined. 89% cabernet sauvignon and 11% syrah. So delicious now. Drink from 2022. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95 Points. The 2018 The Lovers blends 89% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah. On the nose, it takes on layers of ripe dark cherry with tobacco leaf, dark currants and loamy and salty soils that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense with a chewy texture. Layers of huckleberry with black truffle oil, wet stone and cassis all combine on the palate. This shows beautiful length and texture. —Owen Bargreen, Vinous

94 Points. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 89% of this wine, with Syrah 11%. This is a fleshy, full-bodied vintage of this wine, with aromas and flavors of peat, cassis, cocoa powder and plum. Like many wines from this producer and vintage, there's a light grip of tannin providing the scaffolding for the generous amounts of fruit. A hyperextended finish caps it off. It's a sure-fire crowd-pleaser, capturing the best of both varieties. —Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

94 Points. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah, the 2018 The Lovers sashays out of the glass with elegant and seductive notes of fresh, ripe blackberries, dusty plum, dark cherry and a delightful array of oak essences. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is open-knit with a juicy frame of fruit; it's accessible now and will continue to age gracefully for the next 10 to 12 years. Flavors of bitter dark chocolate, crème de cassis, dusty currant and baked earth express in the mouth with a food-friendly essence. The wine somersaults to an impressive finish with lingering notions of cinnamon, vanilla and dusty blackberries with a soft smoky essence... Bravo, it’s delicious! —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

2017

95+ Points. Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Syrah … offers lots of darker currant and smoked blackberry fruits as well as ample licorice, graphite, and gravelly minerality… —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

2016

96 Points. … Spectacular nose combines black cherry, dark raspberry, pomegranate and smoke aromas lifted by pepper and lavender nuances… The cherry and darker fruit flavors are complemented by flinty minerality, flowers and candy store spices. Seriously mouth-staining, precise and vibrant, and dense without being weighty, this blend has it all. The rising, spicy finish stains the palate, with perfectly judged tannins supporting the wine without intruding… —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

95+ Points. The 2016 The Lovers is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, raised in 40-45% new French oak. Its ruby color is followed by a classic Cabernet nose of cassis, crushed rocks, scorched earth, and graphite. It’s medium-bodied, elegant, and focused on the palate, with fine tannins. It opens up nicely with time in the glass, has a complex, salty, layered character, and a blockbuster finish. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points. Some gently lifted, crushed flowers and an amalgam of blackcurrants and blackberries. The palate has a long, rich and deep feel. Very plush yet structurally contained and well integrated tannins. Neat, dark-fruit finish with a lick of herbs to close. A blend of 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% syrah. Try from 2022. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2015

95 Points. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, the 2015 The Lovers is one of the most successful renditions of this cuvée that I can remember tasting. Notes of currant fruit, cocoa nib, plums, tobacco and subtle cedar mingle in a complex bouquet. It's a medium to full-bodied, sapid wine with a deep core of fruit complemented by plenty of savory nuance and framed by powdery, fine-grained tannins. Attractively fresh and delineated (which isn't always the most obvious characteristic of Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon), this is a very persuasive offering from Christophe Baron. —William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

2014

95+ Points. The 176-case 2014 The Lovers checks in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah that was brought up all in 40% new barrels. The Cabernet shows beautifully here with its blackcurrants, graphite and dried herbs, with some meaty, smoky notes (no doubt from the Syrah) coming through on the background. A big, rich, impressively concentrated red, with building tannin and a great mid-palate, it's beautiful today but will be even better in 2-3 years and I suspect will have two decades of longevity. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2013

92 Points. The same blend as the 2014, the 2013 The Lovers is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Syrah that was aged in mostly older puncheons. Showing the more elegant, fresh style of the vintage with its subtle black fruits, ground herbs, earth and lead pencil-like aromas and flavors, it has medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful elegance, fine tannin and a graceful, balanced style that will keep it evolving nicely over the coming decade or more. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2012

96+ Points. One of the more voluptuous, thick and chewy releases, the 2012 The Lovers (86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Syrah) is locked and loaded with notions of black raspberries, cassis, smoked earth, tobacco and licorice. Massively built on the palate, with a full throttle, rich, tannic mouthfeel, give it 3-4 years and drink anytime over the following 15+ years. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

93+ Points. Knockout nose delivers an infusion of berries complicated by flinty minerality, charcuterie, orange zest and warm gravel. Wonderfully fleshy, silky and sweet, if not quite as expressive in the middle palate today as the Camaspelo or Flying Pig blends. But this wine is brilliantly refined and fresh. Finishes firmly tannic and distinctly tangy. Christophe Baron describes this wine as "our answer to Palmer's Alter Ego," but this is more concentrated and richer in extract. —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

2011

95 Points. A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Syrah (10%) that was first made in 2010, the 2011 The Lovers has some solid Cayuse funk, with copious peat moss, herbs, mineral and violets balanced nicely by black-cherry-styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, layered and nicely textured, it offers plenty of up-front appeal yet should also evolve gracefully. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

93+ Points. Bright medium red. Wild red fruits, smoke, pepper, flint and oyster shell on the nose; showing its Syrah side today. Then thick and seamless on the palate, but with lovely animating energy to the flavors of raspberry, crème de cassis and spices. Finishes very long and vibrant, with noble fine-grained tannins. If this wine shows its Syrah on the nose, the palate conveys the energy of the cabernet. –Stephen Tanzer, The International Wine Cellar

2010

95 Points. A new wine and Christophe’s take on a Cab/Syrah blend, the 2010 the Lovers is composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Syrah and comes from the Cayuse and En Cerise Vineyards. Really showing Syrah character, with loads of blackberry, smoked meat, spice, chocolate and mineral aromas and flavors, it flows onto the palate with a full-bodied, mouth-filling and supple texture that partially conceals the wines underlying tannic structure. Already approachable due to the fruit and texture, it nevertheless has an age-worthy feel and should see its 20th birthday in fine form. Drink now-2030. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

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