2020 Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

97 POINTS: A very lovely and fresh, bright expression of 100% Napa Cabernet with nicely delineated dark fruit, liquorice, and tobacco notes. A wonderfully textured, medium-to-full-bodied wine with tremendous concentration on the palate and very fine-grained tannins. Complex brown spices and tobacco mingle with fresh floral notes through a lengthy finish. Grapes are sourced from 3.6 hectares acres off the highest block of the estate, with the oldest vines at 46 years of age. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, owners of Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux, bought the property in early 2020. The roughly 87-hectare estate hugs the eastern foothills of the Mayacamas. Justine Labbé is the general manager and head winemaker. Michelle Rolland consults. Picking began on 10 September and finished on 1 October, but they did not use any of the grapes that were picked after the Glass Fire erupted on 26 September. 9,000 bottles were produced.