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.
91-93 Points Allen Meadows
A softly spicy and very earthy nose speaks of a layered mix of both red and dark fruit elements. There is a highly beguiling inner mouth perfume to the appealingly textured and slightly bigger flavors that are shaped by firm but relatively fine tannins on the velvety and sappy finish. This is presently quite seductive but the structure is sufficiently prominent that I suspect that this will close down after bottling and require at least some patience before it will again be approachable. Good stuff.
92-94 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers is showing brilliantly, bursting with aromas of cassis, licorice, grilled meats, sweet soil tones and black plums. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, textural and enveloping, with a deep and multidimensional core of concentrated fruit, an ample chassis of powdery tannins and a long, sapid finish.