En Orveaux

Brilliant pure purple, this is a dramatic, singing wine, with real lift and exuberance up front which then continues across the palate. Having intensity without undue weight, this has a beautiful aromatic profile of dark red fruits, and a lovely finish. Very impressive.

In the vineyard Sébastien has been moving towards an organic approach. In the cellar, while vinification remains broadly similar, much less new wood is being used during élévage: the village cuvées have been reduced to 50 percent and the crus to two thirds, with a slightly lighter toast being employed in the barrels. All the wines are so much more elegant with less new wood. The 2014 vintage is lovely here.

Mature vines from the mid 1950s are used here and have created a fine, glowing purple wine with lovely, juicy energy and a little whiff of oak among the fruit and violets. There is good weight to the fruit, with floral notes continuing all the way through to the back of the palate. Decidedly elegant, this is serious, powerful wine.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

2010 is the first vintage to be made in the new cuvrie at this domaine, but it will be the last that is vinified by Sylvain Cathiard himself, he is handing over responsibility to his son Sbastien in 2011. The harvest began on 25th September with volumes just a little down compared to previous years, but as ever, Sylvain and his son have produced a most seductive range of wines.

Dense purple black, this wine has very lively fresh fruit, grace and precision, all the finesse of this site. Made from very old vines in a cool site where the land slopes to the north-east. As a result this wine combines superb elegance to this with real density. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Sylvain considers 2013 to be a very classic Burgundy vintage, with good acidity similar to 2010. This delivers very good terroir definition and the classification levels are well marked out. Pure and precise wines, but unfortunately volumes are a further 20% below 2012 because of bad flowering and the need to sort the grapes. Contrary to many Sébastien favoured a bit more extraction, with longer maceration both before and after fermentation, and a bit more punching down during. Very interesting results as you will see. He has also cut back on the new oak.

En Orveaux sits above and beside Echezeaux, but with a northeast exposition. It always ripens well and is Sébastien’s source for his new plant cuttings. The wine is lush, but controlled, cool, lacy, long and fine. There is a sapid freshness on its long finish. Drink 2022-2030.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

Sylvain Cathiard’s grandfather, a foundling from Savoie, came to work in Vosne-Romanée, subsequently buying a few parcels of vineyards for himself. His son André Cathiard began to bottle some of the crop. In due course Sylvain began work with his father but then separated to start his own small domaine, until, on his father’s retirement in 1995, Sylvain could take back the family vineyards on a renting agreement. He has now passed the domaine on to his son Sébastien and a spacious new cellar has been constructed. There is a sense of frustration about Sébastien Cathiard this year. Of course, the loss of so much fruit sets the tone, but he also had to take emergency action to control the aggressive mildew, losing his organic status in the process. Who can blame him? Thus he states a preference for 2015, a significantly easier vintage and one for the long-term, but there are still some very notable wines here. The vintage began on 28th September and was over in three days, as the small berries on the frosted vines had caught up after the welcome September rains. He describes the year as gourmand, balanced and pure.

Medium-deep in colour with a discreetly perfumed bouquet, this starts quietly in the mouth but ah!, what joy follows. There is a marvellous burst of fine silky fruit on the palate. This is a truly wonderful wine which will drink from 2010 to 2014.