Visit to Domaine Cathiard – Tasting the 2022s from Cask

I’m back at Domaine Cathiard on a cold November day, and am looking forward to both tasting Sebastien Cathiard’s creations and giving him an excuse to stop doing paperwork, the bane of (French, at least) winemakers.

Sebastien Cathiard is expanding his family domaine with vineyards in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits. His production has increased dramatically, and as a consequence, he’s also been expanding the estate buildings.

It’s a huge project, both under and above ground, that gives him room to vinify and store the new wines. And Sebastien was lucky with the timing of his expansion, as the 2022 and 2023 vintages were generous.

The expansion will give more consumers the opportunity to experience the Cathiard style, and without breaking the bank.

So here we are: the Cathiard 2022s!

The ’22s from Domaine Cathiard

The Cathiard portfolio has expanded significantly. The excellent aligote had already been bottled, but the rest were barrel-tasted.

Domaine Cathiard Aligote 2022

Domaine Cathiard has within two vintages staked its claim amongst the best aligote producers. Its 2022 is more generous and exotic than the vivid, mineral ’21, but the ’22 maintains its stance and character. It is a white Cathiard (if this makes sense), with all the qualities and strengths that the reds have demonstrated since Sebastien took over. This is vivid and expressive, creating an impressionist view of the terroir and the grape’s qualities. Last but not least, it’s drinking very well, with a lovely hedonistic note.

(Drink from 2023) – Good (88-89p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 –

Domaine Cathiard Côteaux Bourguignon 2022

The Côteaux Bourguignon is vivid, on the lively side, light-footed, and energetic. It has a touch of the fruity generosity that all Cathiard wines have. A winter vin de soif; I like it.

(Drink from 2023) – Good (86-87p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2022

The Bourgogne Pinot Noir is deeper and more intense; a fine regional wine. Darker and more substantial than the 2021, it has the Cathiard character, and while it is bigger than the Coteaux Bourguignon, it’s nevertheless a vivid wine for a summer evening.

(Drink from 2024) – Good+ (87p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Hautes Côtes de Nuits Village 2022

The latest addition to Cathiard’s Hautes Côtes de Nuits empire, these vines in Villers-la-Faye were acquired in 2021. The wine has a fairly lively expression; not particularly precise, but with lovely energy. And with good hedonistic qualities, what’s not to like?

(Drink from 2024) – Very Good (87-88p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Hautes Côtes de Nuits Village Aux Chaumes 2022

The Hautes Côtes de Nuits Aux Chaumes comes from a 1.35-hectare vineyard, another serious expansion of the estate. The parcel has a high limestone content, with clay and stones. Not as mineral-driven as the Dames Huguettes, this still has fine structure and vivid acidity. There is something very appealing about this 2022, and Cathiard certainly has the touch.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Good (87-88p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Les Dames Huguettes 2022

Les Dames Huguettes comes from a vineyard with high limestone content and thin soil. It’s mineral, and significantly more defined than the other wines in the Hautes Côtes line-up. This is a wine with great structure and energy, and is a delightful offering from Cathiard.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Good (88p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Gevrey-Chambertin 2022

The Gevrey-Chambertin is a delicious greeting from this northern appellation with its slightly sweet fruit. It’s a Gevrey, but with a Vosne touch: charming, and in this context, vivid and lively. This has nice balance and generosity, and is quite enjoyable.

(Drink from 2030) – Very Good (89-90p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – cask –

Domaine Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges 2022

The Nuits-Saint-Georges village, mainly from the climat Aux Athés, is a delightful wine in 2022. It has a charming, almost silky feel – such a lovely terroir. The 70-year-old vines really help this shine with hedonistic joy and great delicacy.

(Drink from 2030) – Very Good (89-90p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée 2022

The next step is the Vosne-Romanée, one of my benchmark village wines. This is, as always, generous and vivid, with a delicate, tense expression. It comes from six different lieux-dits, and offers lovely Vosne spiciness. The oak is currently a bit forward, but will integrate beautifully with some time in bottle. A Vosne is a Vosne.

(Drink from 2032) – Fine (90-92p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Chambolle-Musigny Clos de l’Orme 2022

Next up is the magnificent Chambolle Clos de l’Orme, from the centre of the Chambolle appellation below Les Plantes. This is showing beautifully in the 2022 version, with an openly knit character. Classic Chambolle: intense and generous, yet quite airy and light-footed. A cuvee to consider if you want to drink Cathiard young.

(Drink from 2032) – Fine (90-92p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 2022

The ’22 vintage is a treat from Nuits Aux Thorey. It’s cool and airy, and has a lovely, almost creamy, texture. Cooled by the breeze from Meuilley, this is an elegant, charming Thorey.

(Drink from 2032) – Fine+ (92p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers 2022

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers is, as usual, sweeter and more generous than the Thorey. This terroir as a whole has given some tremendous wines in 2022, and the Cathiard version has a significant amount of millerandage grapes. It is deep and intense, with the shot berries supplying even greater energy to this delightful glass.

(Drink from 2034) – Very Fine (93p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée Aux Reignots 2022

The Vosne Reignots is a highly hedonistic effort, and possibly one of the best Reignots I’ve tasted from Cathiard (I have said this before). The vines are starting to show the benefits of their age, with the fine minerality of upper Reignots shining through. On the palate there is rich, silky fruit with a clear saline note to grace your palate. With finely grained minerality, this is wonderfully delicate.

(Drink from 2034) – Very Fine+ (94p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée En Orveaux 2022

The Vosne-Romanée Orveaux is one of the stars at Domaine Cathiard. Located in the Combe d’Orveaux, it benefitted from the breeze from the valley, and hence offers tremendous freshness and energy. The bouquet is an explosion of millerandage fruits stuffed with pomegranate and redcurrant, and spiced with vivid minerality; so sexy and hedonistic. On the palate, it is rich and silky, with tremendous energy from the 70-year-old vines. A true vin d’émotion.

(Drink from 2035) – Very Fine+ (94-95p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 2022

The Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots comes from a plot at the bottom of the vineyard on a small ridge towards Echezeaux. This has produced a fresh, vivid Suchots displaying vibrant red fruit and delicate intensity. This has also benefitted from the lighter oak toast, which permits its delicate fruit notes to have a stronger presence and leave a vivacious impression of Vosne-Romanée fruit. A tremendous Suchots, even though its from the bottom part of the vineyard (the ridge on the northern side could give a mineral touch not found in lower Suchots).

(Drink from 2035) – Very Fine+ (94-95p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 2022

The Vosne Malconsorts is one of the stars of the line-up, and most likely the best Malconsorts produced anywhere in 2022. De Montille and Dujac aspire to these heights, and the new wine from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is a future candidate, but with its holistic impression, the Cathiard has the full package. Malconsorts is not usually a seductive charmer, but the Cathiard ’22 comes close. It’s highly delicate and intense, with delightful silkiness. I love it.

(Drink from 2035) – Outstanding (94-95p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

Domaine Cathiard Romanée Saint-Vivant 2022

The Romanée Saint-Vivant is a hedonistic thrill, and a vin d’émotion. Need I say more? The bouquet is an explosion of rich, juicy fruit and Vosne spices, with tremendous depth and complexity. It is mighty, yet feminine as only a Romanée Saint-Vivant can be. I love this vineyard, and there are several candidates from it for wine of the vintage (not all are tasted yet). Certainly Cathiard is in the running, along with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy, and Arnoux-Lachaux (hotly pursued by Dujac and Hudelot-Noellat). On the palate, this is generous and velvety, with an effortless delivery of extraordinary depth and intensity. Not extremely precise, but rather painting with impressionistic strokes, this is a vin d’émotion, bien sûr.

(Drink from 2035) – Extraordinary (96p) – Tasted 21/11/2023 – Cask –

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Tasting Notes for this producer

• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 2012 January 7, 2019
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne Aux Malconsorts 2011 July 7, 2018
• Domaine Cathiard, Romanee Saint-Vivant 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee les Suchots 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee En Orveaux 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Chambolle-Musigny Clos de l’Orme 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Bourgogne Rouge 2014 March 7, 2016
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 2013 December 13, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee En Orveaux 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Romanee Saint-Vivant 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee les Suchots 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Chambolle-Musigny Clos de l’Orme 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Bourgogne Rouge 2013 April 3, 2015
• Domaine Cathiard, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 December 25, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2012 December 20, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Les Suchots 2004 December 16, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne Aux Malconsorts 2011 July 7, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee 2012 May 23, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2012 May 20, 2014
• Domaine Cathiard, Vosne Aux Malconsorts 2012 May 17, 2014

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