2015 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru 'En Orveaux' 0,75 l Sylvain Cathiard

(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.

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.

The Domaine Cathiard Vosne-Romanée En Orveaux 2015 is in my view one of the stars of the vintage at Domaine Cathiard. Located in the Combe d’Orveaux it has benefited from the breeze from the Combe – and hence it offers a tremendous freshness and energy. The bouquet is brimming with red and dark fruits – loads of pomegranate and red currant – spiced with a lovely minerality. On the palate tremendous depth and length – 70 years old vines – offering a truly magnificent hedonistic experience. It’s so vibrant and energetic .. I adore this wine. Nov 2016, www.winehog.org