Sylvain Cathiard’s grandfather, a foundling from Savoie, came to Burgundy and found work with Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) and Lamarche, subsequently buying a few parcels of vineyards for himself. His son André Cathiard began to bottle some of the crop.
In due course Sylvain began work with his father but then separated to start his own small domaine, until on his father’s retirement in 1995, Sylvain could take back the family vineyards on a renting agreement. He has now been joined by his son Sébastien.
The Cathiards have 5.5 hectares of vineyards in Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-St-Georges and Chambolle-Musigny, including tiny holdings in Clos de Vougeot and Romanée-St-Vivant. A recent addition (from 2006) to the range is the Nuits-St-Georges Aux Thorey.
94 Points Allen Meadows
A brooding and ultra-fresh nose exhibits notably ripe and strikingly complex aromas of dark cherry and raspberry along with violet, lilac and a gorgeous range of spice elements. This is a big and robust effort with excellent volume and mid-palate concentration that delivers plenty of punch and power on the overtly mineral-driven and hugely long finish. While this will be approachable after only 7 to 8 years it will need fully 15 to reach its full potential. Textbook Malconsorts though I stress that there is no point in buying this if you’re not prepared to cellar it for at least 8 to 10 years.
94 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2013 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Malconsorts, raised 80% in new oak, has a slightly introspective nose at the moment: dark berry fruit, touch of bergamot here and there, but fleeting glimpses only. The palate is medium-bodied with a strict lattice of tannin. This is rigid and uncompromising with a stern saline finish that means business and perhaps as a consequence I find more nascent charm enveloping the Suchots at the moment. Cellar this for five or six years and it will surely reward those with patience.