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.
90-92 Points Allen Meadows
A whiff of herbal tea sits atop a mélange of spicy and very pretty red cherry, currant, violet and lavender. The rich and relatively generously proportioned flavors possess solid concentration as well as a refined texture, all wrapped in an intensely saline-inflected finale that exhibits fine length. There is a mild touch of warmth but otherwise, this is really quite fine, indeed even finer than usual.
93+ Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey has turned out very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, orange oil, burning embers and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, ample and perfumed, with supple, powdery tannins and a concentrated core of fruit, underpinned by a lively spine of acidity, it will reward some bottle age.