Sylvain Cathiard Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Aux Chaumes 2022

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country Region: France, Burgundy, Cote-de-Nuits
Appellation: Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits

A 1.35 ha vineyard located above Nuits St Georges. A place that holds its acidity well in the current climate – 380-400 m elevation. Only about 1-2 days later maturing than the rest.

'The 2022 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Aux Chaumes, which comes from the border of the Vosne appellation, has a more elegant and refined bouquet compared to the regular bottling sans lieu-dit. The palate is well-structured with firm grip, a little drier and more sinewy in style with admirable length on the finish. Drink 2025-2035.' (89-91) points, Neal Martin, Vinous, November 2023.

'A medium depth of colour, with the most interesting perfume to date, a very fine raspberry with a floral topnote. A lovely balance between the fruit and the acidity, a striking elegance and very good length. Excellent. Drink from 2025-2028.' (88-90) points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, January 2024.

'Do I need to tell you how much I adore Sylvain Cathiard’s wines? This is a seriously good quality producer of Vosne-Romanée, one whose star is in the ascendant. These are gloriously silky smooth, complex wines; not just with the top Premier Crus but down to the generic Burgundy. It’s the intensity and focus that set Cathiard apart, wines with supreme definition and purity that seduce the palate like a beautiful courtesan. I would love to taste his Grand Crus, but they are incredibly rare and sought-after. This producer comes highly recommended from top to bottom.' Neal Martin, Vinous.

This tiny Domaine was established by Sylvain Cathiard’s grandfather (who worked for Domaine de la Romanee Conti and later for Domaine Lamarche) in the 1930s and was then further built and maintained by Sylvain’s father Andre from 1969 until 1985, when Sylvain himself became involved. The following year, Sylvain set up his own with parcels of vines rented from his father and other vignerons, before taking on his father’s original vineyards. From 2006, he was joined by his son, Sebastian, and they have formed the estate of Sylvain Cathiard et Fils and since 2011 Sebastien is running the domaine with Sylvain retiring.

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.