Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, Aux Malconsorts 2014 6x75cl

(92-94) Points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (this only finished its secondary fermentation in late October): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry and crushed stone complicated by a whiff of smoked meat. A bit less harmonious right now than the Suchots but shows outstanding éclat to the savory flavors of dark berries, minerals and fresh blood. Superb acidity and a high level of CO2 contribute to the impression of energy and lift. Finishes with palate-saturating fruit, complex soil salinity, and a serious spine of tannins that avoid dryness. Outstanding potential.Review Date: 01 Jan 16

Domaine Cathiard has been run since 2010 by Sebastien Cathiard, who has built on the incredible work done by his father, Sylvain, in creating wone of the most sought-after addresses in the Cote de Nuits. From the beginning of his tenure, Sylvain crafted wines known for their beautiful depth, purity of fruit, and texture which garnered them an avid following. Sebastien has carried on this legacy, bringing even greater clarity, precision and finesse to the wines. The high regard in which these wines are held is a reflection of the consistently outstanding quality we have come to expect of this brilliant Vosne-Romanée-based producer. For a number of years now, the Cathiard property had been something of a perpetual building site. Now, there is more than enough space for Sebastien to work with the same obsessive attention to detail on his growing range of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits wines as on the Domaine’s well-established range of Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St Georges Premiers Crus that have cult-like status across the board. The fine range of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits reds capitalises on the beneficial impact of climate change on this particular region of the Côte d’Or and allows a greater number of wine-lovers the opportunity to enjoy the style and quality that are synonymous with Domaine Cathiard but at a much more affordable price level.