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The 2015 The Lovers comes from biodynamically farmed vines planted in 2001 in basalt cobblestones. It's composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah and was matured for 21 months in 30% new French oak. It’s youthful and generous on the nose: blueberry pie and soaring violet perfume are accented by nuances of black olives, fig and iodine. Full-bodied, it floods the mouth with concentrated, perfumed flavors and hasn’t developed any tertiary character at this stage. It’s structured by powerful, powdery tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity and has a long, latent finish. 180 cases
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The Lovers in 2015 is a dark and seductive blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. It has matured beautifully since release, with a cascade of gravel dust and flinty black raspberries complicated by hints of exotic spice and ash forming its bouquet. It’s silken, yet not weighty, lifted by a core of fresh acidity and sour citrus as ripe red berry fruits take on a slightly savory saltiness toward the close. This maintains its tannic heft yet with a softer blow, finishing spry and dramatically long with a minty herbal resonance.
(more than half of the oak was new): Bright, dark red. Aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice are complicated by some gamey, truffley funkiness. Supple and fat but at the same time youthful and fresh, offering savory red berry and spice flavors. Turns distinctly tight on the back half, finishing with notes of framboise , plum and mocha and youthfully clenched, drying tannins that will require patience. Very firmly structured. (13.5% alcohol)
Made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, the 2015 The Lovers was aged in roughly 40-50% new French oak 600-liter barrels. It gives up a terrific, classic bouquet of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, cold fireplace/ash, and spice as well as medium to full-bodied richness on the palate. It has light tannin, a seamless texture, and opens up beautifully with time in the glass. It can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years. The unfortunate news at Cayuse this year was issues with the corks on their 2015 releases. For whatever reason, paraffin wax, which is used to coat the outside of corks, ended up being pushed into the bottle during bottling leaving particles as well as an oily residue in the wines. The only 2015s to be released were the Armada Syrah, God Only Knows, and The Lovers. This is heartbreaking, and I still remember tasting these fabulous wines from barrel. Hat’s off to Christophe Baron and his team at Cayuse for discovering the problem, not releasing faulty wines, and refunding consumers’ money. The 2015s that were bottled showed beautifully, and certainly, the 2016s are also terrific wines.