Sylvain Cathiard Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Orveaux 2022
The Wine
93-95 Pts Neal Martin, Vinous 'The 2022 Vosne-Romanée En Orveaux 1er Cru has slightly darker, blacker fruit on the nose compared to the Aux Reignots, a heightened marine influence in the background - sea spray and hints of Japanese nori. The medium-bodied palate has firm tannins and more body than the Aux Reignots, with a grippy, quite intense finish. This will require 5-7 years in a cool cellar. Drink 2028-2050.'
93-95 Pts Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy 'Mid purple, super perfumed on the nose, delicate red berries with a little overcoat of vanilla. A core density to the fruit, now showing more wild strawberries, on the palate, less finesse than Reignots but an intensity which is very pleasing. Drink from 2030-2037.'
92-94 Pts William Kelley, Wine Advocate 'The 2022 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru En Orveaux is rich and robust, offering up aromas of plums, sweet berries, confit orange and spices framed by a touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a textural attack and a deep, enveloping core of fruit, it concludes with a saline finish. As usual, this is the insiders' choice among Cathiard's premiers crus.'
91-94 Pts Allen Meadows, Burghound 'Once again the nose is agreeably fresh and bright with its softly spicy array of red cherry, violet and wet stone. The wonderfully refined and lilting if not especially dense middleweight flavors that exude evident minerality on the firm, serious and youthfully austere finish. This is lovely and despite not being a monster of concentration, it's quite clear that this too is going to need extended keeping. Drink through 2034+.'
The Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Sub Region - Vosne Romanee
Extra - Cork
Year - 2022
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Based in Vosne, his 5 hectares span Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-St-Georges and Chambolle-Musigny, with a very small parcel in Romanée-St-Vivant located directly below Romanee Conti where they are officially the smallest land-owner of this magnificent Grand cru. All vineyard work is carried out with meticulous attention to detail by Sebastien and his wife and a small dedicated team. All vineyard work is done on organic principles although Sebastien has not sought certification.
For winemaking Sebastien has a definite hands-off approach, preferring to do nothing rather than interfere with the natural development of the wines. He de-stems entirely, cold settles the juice for about 10 days and ferments the wines for between 22 and 30 days on skins. The new wines are matured for 18 months in oak of which about 90% is from tonellerie Remond and 10% from Francois Freres as follows: Village wines, roughly 1/3rd new oak and 2/3rds of 1 year old; 1er Crus, roughly 50% new oak and 50% 1 year old; Grand Cru, two new barrels and one one year old barrel. Since 2000 none of the wines are fined or filtered.
Sebastien Cathiards wines are incredibly harmonious, softly textured and very fine. Since taking over in 2011 Sebastien has been listening carefully to those few who get the privilege to taste with him and he has gradually reduced the percentage of new oak used for ageing. In a good vintage there are around 50 barrels produced in total across all appellations. His Vosne-Romanées in particular are now regarded among the best of the village. All wines offered here are from fully mature vineyards that have yielded fruit with wonderful natural intensity and balance. These wines represent artisan wine-making at its very best.
