2020 Cathiard Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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$265.00

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Decanter

Reviewed February 2023

A very lovely and fresh, bright expression of 100% Napa Cabernet with nicely delineated dark fruit, liquorice, and tobacco notes. A wonderfully textured, medium-to-full-bodied wine with tremendous concentration on the palate and very fine-grained tannins. Complex brown spices and tobacco mingle with fresh floral notes through a lengthy finish. Grapes are sourced from 3.6 hectares acres off the highest block of the estate, with the oldest vines at 46 years of age. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, owners of Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux, bought the property in early 2020. The roughly 87-hectare estate hugs the eastern foothills of the Mayacamas. Justine Labbé is the general manager and head winemaker. Michelle Rolland consults. Picking began on 10 September and finished on 1 October, but they did not use any of the grapes that were picked after the Glass Fire erupted on 26 September. 9,000 bottles were produced. (JC)

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Professional Reviews

James Suckling

Review Date: 03/2023

A dense aromatic profile of earth, dark plum, Valrhona chocolate, tobacco and spice dominate the nose. The palate is rich and round with seamless velvety tannins. A focused acidity complimented with a balanced, complete mouthfeel leads to a finish that displays the very best of the terroir farmed by Cathiard Vineyard.

Wine Enthusiast

Review Date: 06/2023

Extraordinary and opulent, this densely concentrated, luxuriously textured flagship Napa wine by Florence and Daniel Cathiard of Bordeaux is their first vintage from the former Flora Springs property. The wine is softly saturated with black currants, blueberries, spearmint and black olives for a comforting, mouthfilling expression that is at once powerful and gentle. It feels layered, deep and creamy. Best from 2027-2037. *Cellar Selection* (JG)

Jane Anson

Review Date: 11/2022

This is a great wine to come out of the gate with for the Cathiard's new property, gorgeously balanced, expands through the mid-palate, delivers dark chocolate, charcoal, blackcurrant, damson, spiced greengage plum and pomegranate fruits with floral undertones (I believe there is a sliver of Cabernet Franc in here, although very clearly the dominant grape is Cabernet Sauvignon). Feels fresher in many ways than the Founding Brothers, without sacrificing concentration and clarity, because the mouthwatering acidity is more apparent, giving it a luscious sign-off. 30hl/h yield. This is largely from the Up and down vineyard plot (named by the Cathiards for obvious reasons), where much of the oldest vine stock is concentrated. Justine Labbé winemaker, Frederick Ammons consultant, 80% new oak. Harvest September 10 to October 1.

Notes

96 points, Georgia Hindle for Decanter: "Ripe and juicy blue fruit aromas on the nose with some soft wood spice, acaia, liquorice, a touch of California heat in the aromas but smells fresh and inviting. Clean, supple, lively, pure and focussed on the palate. Tannins take the fore, really quite mouthfilling with ash, smoke, tar, tobacco edges, leather and some meat, underpinning the blackcurrant, black cherry and blueberry fruit. Still quite tense, focused in the centre, driving from start to finish in one line, despite the slight weight and nice density of the tannins. A very soft vanilla sweetness is also apparent. It's both potent and poised, perfumed and pure. You can't get away from the liquorice and tar undercurrent that really marks the wine. Dark, savoury, brooding, a really complete wine. Lots of personality and manages the combination of having both Bordeaux and Napa sparkle. A delicious first vintage from the new Napa estate owned by Florence and Daniel Cathiard of Smith Haut Lafitte. Directors Justine Labbé and Fabien Teigen, consultants Michel Rolland and Frederick Ammons." (2/2023)

Details

Origin	Napa Valley, California, United States
Type/Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends
Alcohol Content	14.1%
SKU	1675224