2015 - Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru En Orveaux, Sylvain Cathiard

The 2015 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru En Orveau was the first of Sebastien Cathiard's cuvées to finish its malolactic. The nose is tightly wound with subtle oyster shell and estuarine scents infusing the dark berry fruit, only reluctantly opening (unlike the more expressive and open Aux Reignots). The palate is sorbet fresh on the entry, but linear and correct, perhaps the most conservative and "classic" of Cathiard's 2015s and surely with a propensity to age over many years. One of the most enigmatic of the domaine's 2015, undeniably it is full of class.

(this wine finished its malo first, last April): Healthy medium red. Slightly high-toned scents of blueberry, blackberry, cassis and licorice. Sweet, dense and a bit chunky following the last couple wines despite its early malo. Quite dry and classic, but conveys an impression of chocolatey ripeness. The tannic finish displays a repeating chocolatey nuance, but this northeast-facing parcel has the energy of a cooler exposition.