Sylvain Cathiard

Overview

Domaine Sylvain Cathiard (now run by son Sébastien Cathiard) is one of Vosne-Romanée’s finest small estates. The domaine produces wines from Vosne-Romanée premier crus (including the sought-after “En Orveaux” and “Aux Malconsorts”), Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Chambolle-Musigny. The wines are produced in tiny quantities and are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits “Chaumes” is a remarkable value from old-vine fruit.

Appellations

• Vosne-Romanée (villages, 1er crus: En Orveaux, Aux Malconsorts, Aux Reignots)
• Nuits-Saint-Georges
• Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits “Chaumes”
• Bourgogne Aligoté

My Cellar

67 total bottles (37 recent).

• Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits: 53 btls (18 pending), 2019–2023
• Vosne-Romanée: 8 btls (5 pending), 2017–2023
• Gevrey-Chambertin: 4 btls (3 pending), 2019–2023
• Bourgogne Aligoté: 2 btls, 2022

Consumption Notes

• Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2019 (Oct 2023): “Loved this.” — affirmed position.

Style Notes

The Cathiard style is refined, spice-driven, and precise — hallmarks of Vosne terroir. The Hautes-Côtes de Nuits “Chaumes” is a benchmark overachiever: grown on limestone-clay hillsides above the Côte, it shows remarkable purity and structure for the appellation.

2023 Vintage Notes

Visited January 2025. Full range produced in the generous 2023 vintage. The Vosne premier crus (En Orveaux, Aux Malconsorts) and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits all showed the vintage’s characteristic richness and depth. Sébastien Cathiard’s wines continue the family’s tradition of refined, precise Vosne.

2024 and 2023 Vintage Notes (Burghound #101)

Sébastien Cathiard now farms 12.5 ha and recently finished a new state-of-the-art cuverie. 2024 was “difficult from the beginning”; constant rain, terrible for flowering, perfect for mildew spread. Picked September 20-25. Yields off ~50% (average 27 hl/ha — helped by large Hautes Côtes holdings less affected by mildew). Potential alcohols 11-12%, chaptalized 1-1.5%. Post-malo pHs 3.65-3.75 (high side historically). No Coteaux Bourguignon or Nuits “Aux Thorey”/“Aux Murgers” made; latter two combined into a Nuits “1er” blend. Romanée St. Vivant not presented.

2024 Scores (barrel):

• Vosne-Romanée “Aux Malconsorts” 1er: (91-94) — .74 ha of 35+ year old vines; “super-sleek yet powerful”; “should also repay a decade plus of bottle aging”
• Nuits St. Georges “1er” (Thorey + Murgers blend): (90-93) — “quite promising”
• Vosne-Romanée: (89-91) — from 4 villages lieux-dits; “quality Vosne villages”
• Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits “Aux Chaumes”: (87-89) — “well-worth checking out”
• Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits: (87-89) — “worth a look”
• Gevrey-Chambertin: (87-90) — from .34 ha in Champs Franc
• Bourgogne: (86-88) — from Flagey vines opposite Clos de Vougeot
• Bourgogne HCdN “Les Dames Huguettes”: (86-89) — “quite fine but will need at least a few years”

2023 Scores (bottle):

• Vosne-Romanée “Aux Malconsorts” 1er: 93 — “quite firm today…could be reasonably approached after only 5 to 8 years”
• Nuits St. Georges “Aux Thorey” 1er: 90 — “very Aux Thorey in style”
• Bourgogne HCdN “Les Dames Huguettes”: 87 — “really quite good for its level”

My Tastings

(formal notes to be added)

Sources

• sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2025 #115.txt
• sources/articles/Burghound/Burghound Issue 101 - 2024 and 2023 Cote de Nuits Reds.txt