Domaine Sylvain Cathiard & Fils Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge 2021 750ml

Originating from Savoie and arriving in Burgundy to work with the imperious Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Domaine Lamarche, the Cathiard family possess one of the most impressive collective CVs in the world. It has, expectedly, forged its glorious reputation later when they started a winery themselves.

Currently at the helm is Sebastian Cathiard, the third generation of the family, who cultivates a mere 5.5 hectares of land spread over so many sites with none bigger than one hectare. For context, the largest cuvée Cathiard produces is the Bourgogne Rouge, which sees just over 2,000 bottles of production each year.

Because of the scarcity, the unmatched demand and the heavy allocation for top restaurants, his wines are, naturally, some of the hardest to acquire.

The maiden 2021 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge comes from three parcels totaling 2.5 hectares, 85% from the lieu-dit of "Piece Dame Marie". It has a nicely controlled bouquet with brambly red fruit and dried rose petal. Perhaps it needs a little more intensity? The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fresh and vibrant with a mineral-driven finish. Fine.