Tasting and Characteristics of the Romanée-Saint-Vivant 2022 by Sylvain Cathiard

Tasting

Color

The wine shows a glowing, fresh purple hue, typical of a young Pinot noir from a great terroir, reflecting the fullness and concentration of the fruit.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable transparency and striking delineation, with a vibrant minerality unfolding behind intense red fruit. Aromas of black cherry and plum mingle with subtle smoky and spiced nuances, echoing the finesse typical of great Vosne-Romanée Pinot noirs. More reserved than some other cuvées from the estate, it calls for patience, gradually revealing a deep and promising aromatic register.

Palate

The palate is medium-bodied yet broad and fleshy at its core, wrapped in a cashmere-like texture. The tannins are finely filigreed, delicate and perfectly integrated, while black cherry, white pepper and allspice notes bring both sweetness and spiced tension. The finish is long, saline and spicy, leaving a lasting impression of purity and sensuality.

Food and wine pairings

This Grand Cru pairs beautifully with refined veal dishes, whether roasted or braised, as well as with noble poultry such as pigeon or guinea fowl, especially when lightly smoked. Dishes built around reduced meat jus, mushrooms or subtle truffle notes will highlight its spiced and earthy dimension, while rich but delicate preparations, such as lamb with fine herbs, also complement its silky structure.

Serving and cellaring

The Romanée-Saint-Vivant 2022 is best served at a temperature of around 61°F (16°C) to preserve its aromatic freshness and textural finesse. Its considerable aging potential allows for cellaring over several decades, with an optimal drinking window extending well beyond the next ten years.

Other characteristics

This wine was aged in three barrels, two of them new, representing roughly 67% new oak—a notably high proportion for such a limited-volume cuvée, reflecting the estate's ambition to give the wine a structure capable of sustaining long-term aging.

A Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru of rare precision and finesse

The Estate

Sylvain Cathiard & Fils is a family estate located in Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Its origins trace back to the 1930s, when the Cathiard family began structuring their vineyard holdings. Today, the domaine is led by Sébastien Cathiard, fourth generation of the family, who took over from his father Sylvain in 2011. The estate is renowned for its tiny, prestigious holdings, including a 0.17-hectare parcel of Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and for a style defined by purity, precision and silky texture, placing it among Burgundy's most sought-after producers.

The Vineyard

The Romanée-Saint-Vivant comes from a micro-parcel of just 0.17 hectares, located directly below the Romanée-Conti parcel, in a central and particularly favorable section of the grand cru slope. The vines benefit from well-drained limestone and clay-limestone soils, moderate slope and ideal sun exposure, all of which support slow and complete ripening of the pinot noir grapes. This exceptional positioning makes the estate the smallest official owner of the Romanée-Saint-Vivant appellation.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a warm growing season and relatively dry conditions, yet the Côte de Nuits achieved a fine balance between ripeness and freshness. The fruit reached full maturity while retaining lively acidity, resulting in a vintage combining generous concentration with vibrant minerality and tension.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Romanée-Saint-Vivant 2022 were harvested by hand and entirely destemmed, following the estate's usual practice. Fermentation relied on indigenous yeasts, with careful extraction through calibrated punching down and pumping over. The wine was aged in three barrels, two of them new, for an extended period in oak, allowing the tannins to soften and the wood to integrate seamlessly with the fruit, without ever overpowering its natural purity.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.