2020 Cathiard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
A dense aromatic profile of earth, dark plum, Valrhona chocolate, tobacco and spice dominate the nose. The palate is rich and round with seamless velvety tannins. A focused acidity complimented with a balanced, complete mouthfeel leads to a finish that displays the very best of the terroir farmed by Cathiard Vineyard.
James Suckling
Wonderful aromas of blackcurrants, dark plums, mint, sage, and dried wood. Some sandalwood. Full- to medium-bodied with tannins that have the texture of fine velvet and run down the length of the wine. Extremely polished and refined. Sophisticated. Firm at the end. This will age beautifully. Pure cabernet sauvignon.
Decanter
Ripe and juicy blue fruit aromas on the nose with some soft wood spice, acacia, liquorice, a touch of California heat in the aromas but smells fresh and inviting. Clean, supple, lively, pure and focused on the palate. Tannins take the fore, really quite mouthfilling with ash, smoke, tar, tobacco edges, leather and some meat, underpinning the blackcurrant, black cherry and blueberry fruit. Still quite tense, focused in the center, driving from start to finish in one line, despite the slight weight and nice density of the tannins. A very soft vanilla sweetness is also apparent. It's both potent and poised, perfumed and pure. You can't get away from the liquorice and tar undercurrent that really marks the wine. Dark, savory, brooding, a really complete wine. Lots of personality and manages the combination of having both Bordeaux and Napa sparkle. A delicious first vintage from the new Napa estate owned by Florence and Daniel Cathiard of Smith Haut Lafitte. Directors Justine Labbé and Fabien Teigen, consultants Michel Rolland and Frederick Ammons.