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.
95-97 Points Neal Martin
The 2023 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru is a kindred spirit to the Les Suchots on the nose, sharing the same purity and utterly entrancing delineation. The two- thirds new oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is beautifully balanced with a bit more grip and maybe a little more backbone than the Les Suchots, yet there is so much harmony and poise toward the finish. Outstanding. Drink 2028-2055.
94-97 Points Jasper Morris
AJust a little deeper in colour, a fresh pale purple. The bouquet expresses the joy of Malconsorts, floral as well as with an exquisite darker cherry fruit and as usual this is by far the most complete wine on the palate with a deep cherry expression, just more red cherry than black, but with a sense of harmony that excites. Drink from 2032-2040.