2022 Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Cathiard Vineyard's Estate Napa Valley 0.75l

2022 Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Cathiard Vineyard's Estate - Napa Valley/USA
single-vineyard wine

Origin:

The Cathiard Vineyard Estate is located at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains between St. Helena and Rutherford – in the heart of Napa Valley. The estate's origins date back to 1885 , when brothers James and William Rennie planted vines there and built one of California's first stone gravity-flow wineries. After Prohibition and changing owners, a new era began in 2020: Florence and Daniel Cathiard , known for their Bordeaux winery Château Smith Haut Lafitte , took over the historic estate. They invested in sustainable farming, biodiversity, and a modern cellar – including their own cooperage, an absolute rarity in Napa Valley. Today, Cathiard Vineyard is considered one of the region's most ambitious boutique estates.

Expansion:

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes exclusively from the estate's oldest Cabernet plots (average age approximately 35 years) and was subjected to rigorous selection. The grapes were harvested by hand , visually sorted, and transferred to the fermentation tanks by gravity. After a cold maceration, the wine fermented under temperature-controlled conditions with gentle pump-overs and punch-downs . The maceration period was approximately 30 days, followed by malolactic fermentation in new French barriques . Aging lasted 18–20 months , approximately 80% of which was in new oak .

Aroma & Taste:

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon presents an opulent, deep bouquet of cassis, blackberry, and black cherry , underscored by graphite, cedarwood, and tobacco . On the palate, it is powerful and dense , supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and vibrant freshness. Notes of dark chocolate, violets, and a fine minerality accompany the long, precise finish. A Cabernet that combines the lush fruitiness of Napa Valley with the elegance of a Bordeaux-inspired signature.

Food recommendation:

Perfect with dry-aged beef steak , braised lamb with rosemary , game dishes , or mature cheeses like Comté and Cheddar. It's also suitable as a standalone wine for festive occasions—served in a large glass, it unfolds its full depth and complexity.

Special features of the 2022 vintage in Napa Valley:

2022 was characterized by periods of heat and low yields , resulting in small, highly concentrated, and aromatically ripe berries. Despite the climatic challenges, the grapes remained healthy and produced wines characterized by density, deep fruit, and remarkable freshness . A vintage characterized by low yields per hectare (approx. 1.5 t/acre = 22 hl/ha), this year produced particularly expressive Cabernet Sauvignons.

Conclusion:

The 2022 Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship of the young estate —a wine of great depth. It embodies the Cathiards' philosophy: to transfer the elegance of Bordeaux to Napa Valley without denying its opulent fruitiness. With its combination of concentration, precision, and provenance, it is an ambassador for the winery's new radiance —and a milestone in Napa Valley's development toward distinctive, top-quality wines.