CATHIARD VINEYARD
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2020
Why Buy: We’re here to announce a new must-watch name in Napa: Cathiard Vineyard. This superlative trio of releases we bring you today — respectively, 97, 96, and 94 points, and made with fruit picked early in the 2020 vintage, before the fires arrived — demonstrate what’s so exciting these days about this winery: the bold, luxurious, fruit-forwardness of Napa harnessed to an Old World classicism and restraint. As the San Francisco Chronicle wrote last year, Cathiard has already shot to the top of its class, quickly assuming its place "among the wineries” at the top of “the tier that sits just below Bordeaux's consummate First Growth estates."
What They're Saying: "Extraordinary and opulent ... densely concentrated, luxuriously textured," Wine Enthusiast wrote, in a soaring, 97-point review of the Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. The same publication weighed in on the 96-point 'Founding Brothers' 2020, a "massively built wine" with "potent black fruit flavors and sophisticated spices" and a "mouth-filling texture."
Our Tasting Notes: The 2020 Single Vineyard Cabernet dazzled the Concierge team at James Suckling’s “Great Wines of the World” event in New York two weeks ago: this is a strutting titan of a wine, at once powerful and graceful, majestic and charming. You’ll swoon to the layers of crème de cassis, black cherry, crushed rocks, and violets, all gliding over a plush yet energetic palate. Napa hedonism, meet regal French poise. The ‘Hora' blend captivates with its savory accents of tobacco, olive tapenade, and graphite, which frame a pure core of raspberry fruit. Its depth and length are its calling cards, but what appeals most to us is that it offers the kind of grace notes that elevate it above most other big Napa reds. ‘Founding Brothers' is the more flamboyant of the blends, dazzling the senses with its rich opulence of kirsch and Black Forest cake. What seduces, though, is its pinpoint acidity, which gives the wine dimension and clarity.
The Story: Though the property can trace its roots back to a pair of forward-thinking Scottish brothers, the Rennies, who set up shop in St. Helena in 1855, it had been a relative non-entity until the fortuitous and ambitious arrival, in 2020, of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, owners of Bordeaux's renowned Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Captivated by the biodiversity surrounding the historic stone winery, the Cathiards have devoted enormous resources to comprehensively renovating the ancient caves and revitalizing the old-vine vineyards. Taking their renowned château in Bordeaux as a model, the Cathiards have implemented sustainable organic and biodynamic practices, while at the same time introducing a new level of precision to the winemaking. As their first wine class takes the stage, one thing is clear: the Cathiards’ deep respect for heritage and terroir is already reaping major dividends.
What to Pair Them With: Though mesmerizing on their own, these soil-driven reds will enhance nearly any gourmet preparation, from pasta with black truffles to standing rib roast to seared duck breast.
Fun Fact: The Rennie brothers were descendants of the engineer who was knighted for building the London Bridge.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source directly from the estate, so you can be confident that your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Don't hesitate to secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2024. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NM, NY, SC, TN, WI, and Store 1203 (Reno, NV). This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, July 7th, 2024.
