Domaine Sylvain Cathiard
2016 Romanée St. VivantGrand Cru Red barrel
Score: 93-96
Tasted: Jan 15, 2018
Drink: 2031+
Issue: 69
Don’t miss!
Note: from a tiny .18 ha parcel
Producer note: Sébastian Cathiard was stoic about the frost losses suffered in 2016, noting that “they were bad but it easily could have been worse. We lost between 25 and 70% in some vineyards, particularly in Nuits and Chambolle but thankfully my vines in Romanée St. Vivant, Reignots, Malconsorts and Les Murgers were essentially untouched. Unfortunately, what the frost didn’t destroy the mildew came close and particularly so in my parcels of Bourgogne and Vosne villages. In total, my production in 2016 will be off about 35%. After those two problems it was essentially smooth sailing and I picked everything in three days between the 28th and 30th of September. We were able to pick so quickly because the fruit was not only clean but there just wasn’t much of it. I chose to totally destem the bunches and fermented the wines between 25 and 30 days. Somewhat curiously the malos were relatively extended yet there wasn’t a lot of malic acidity in the first place, which isn’t necessarily problematic though it is hard to explain. Overall, I really like the style of 2016 as it’s vibrant and fresh and I think the wines will drink well young and with age.” The young Cathiard continues to impress and it would be fair to say his 2016s are, generally speaking, excellent. In the same vein however, I was slightly more impressed by the now in-bottle 2015s, which were bottled in April 2017. (Becky Wasserman & Co., www.beckywasserman.com, Beaune, France; The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com, Robert Rolls & Co., www.robertrolls.com, Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, Fields, Morris & Verdin, www.fmvwines.com, Flint Wines, www.flintwines.com, La Réserve, The Rare & Fine Wine Company Limited, www.therareandfinewinecompany.com and O.W. Loeb, www.owloeb.com, all UK; Veritas Imports, www.veritaswine.com, CA, Fine Vines, www.finevines.com, IL, Wines Unlimited, www.winesunlimited.com, LA, Frederick Wildman, www.frederickwildman.com, NY/NJ/CT, Classified Wine & Spirits, LLC, www.classifiedwine.net, TX, Small Potatoes Wine, www.smallpotatoeswine.com, ID, C’est Vin, LLC, 703.243.3559, VA, all USA; L’Imperatrice Fine Wines, www.imperatrice.com.hk, Hong Kong/China/Macau).
Tasting note: Once again the kaleidoscopically spicy nose of various red and dark berry aromas is restrained and cool. The sleek, vibrant and gorgeously textured and refined middle weight flavors deliver sneaky good length on the beautifully well-balanced finish. This brilliant effort is a wine of lace and grace.
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
US$13,500 / 每箱價格
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard
2016 Romanée St. VivantGrand Cru Red barrel
Score: 93-96
Tasted: Jan 15, 2018
Drink: 2031+
Issue: 69
Don’t miss!
Note: from a tiny .18 ha parcel
Producer note: Sébastian Cathiard was stoic about the frost losses suffered in 2016, noting that “they were bad but it easily could have been worse. We lost between 25 and 70% in some vineyards, particularly in Nuits and Chambolle but thankfully my vines in Romanée St. Vivant, Reignots, Malconsorts and Les Murgers were essentially untouched. Unfortunately, what the frost didn’t destroy the mildew came close and particularly so in my parcels of Bourgogne and Vosne villages. In total, my production in 2016 will be off about 35%. After those two problems it was essentially smooth sailing and I picked everything in three days between the 28th and 30th of September. We were able to pick so quickly because the fruit was not only clean but there just wasn’t much of it. I chose to totally destem the bunches and fermented the wines between 25 and 30 days. Somewhat curiously the malos were relatively extended yet there wasn’t a lot of malic acidity in the first place, which isn’t necessarily problematic though it is hard to explain. Overall, I really like the style of 2016 as it’s vibrant and fresh and I think the wines will drink well young and with age.” The young Cathiard continues to impress and it would be fair to say his 2016s are, generally speaking, excellent. In the same vein however, I was slightly more impressed by the now in-bottle 2015s, which were bottled in April 2017. (Becky Wasserman & Co., www.beckywasserman.com, Beaune, France; The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com, Robert Rolls & Co., www.robertrolls.com, Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, Fields, Morris & Verdin, www.fmvwines.com, Flint Wines, www.flintwines.com, La Réserve, The Rare & Fine Wine Company Limited, www.therareandfinewinecompany.com and O.W. Loeb, www.owloeb.com, all UK; Veritas Imports, www.veritaswine.com, CA, Fine Vines, www.finevines.com, IL, Wines Unlimited, www.winesunlimited.com, LA, Frederick Wildman, www.frederickwildman.com, NY/NJ/CT, Classified Wine & Spirits, LLC, www.classifiedwine.net, TX, Small Potatoes Wine, www.smallpotatoeswine.com, ID, C’est Vin, LLC, 703.243.3559, VA, all USA; L’Imperatrice Fine Wines, www.imperatrice.com.hk, Hong Kong/China/Macau).
Tasting note: Once again the kaleidoscopically spicy nose of various red and dark berry aromas is restrained and cool. The sleek, vibrant and gorgeously textured and refined middle weight flavors deliver sneaky good length on the beautifully well-balanced finish. This brilliant effort is a wine of lace and grace.
