The 2020 Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) was the inaugural flagship vintage from Florence and Daniel Cathiard's Napa estate (formerly part of the Flora Springs property). Despite the challenges of the 2020 Napa vintage, it received exceptionally strong reviews from leading critics.
| Critic |
Score |
Highlights |
| Wine Enthusiast (Jim Gordon) |
97/100 |
"Extraordinary and opulent." Dense yet luxurious, with black currant, blueberry, spearmint, and black olive notes. Powerful but gentle, layered and creamy. Drink 2027–2037. |
| James Suckling |
97/100 |
Blackcurrants, dark plum, mint, sage, sandalwood. Velvety tannins, refined structure, "extremely polished and sophisticated." Best after 2026. |
| Decanter (Georgie Hindle) |
96/100 |
Praised for balance, freshness, dark chocolate, blackcurrant, damson plum, floral notes, and vibrant acidity. Recommended drinking 2027–2047. |
| Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Joe Czerwinski) |
94/100 |
Commended the California fruit and Bordeaux-inspired structure. Found it somewhat firm and drying in youth, suggesting additional bottle age will allow it to knit together. |
| Wine Spectator |
92/100 |
A solid review, though somewhat more restrained than other critics. |
Overall critical consensus
- Average of major critics: approximately 95–96 points
- Widely regarded as one of the standout successes of the difficult 2020 Napa Valley vintage.
- The wine is repeatedly praised for combining:
- Napa richness and concentration
- Bordeaux-inspired elegance and restraint
- Fine-grained tannins
- Excellent aging potential
Style
Expect aromas and flavors of:
- Black currant
- Dark plum
- Blueberry
- Cedar
- Tobacco
- Dark chocolate
- Mint and sage
- Black olive
- Sandalwood
The palate is generally described as full-bodied but graceful, with remarkably polished tannins and a long, persistent finish. Critics consistently note that it is more about finesse than sheer power.
Aging outlook
Most reviewers recommend waiting a few years before opening:
- Ideal drinking window: 2027–2037
- Some critics believe it has the structure to develop through 2045–2047.
For collectors interested in Bordeaux-inspired Napa Cabernet, the 2020 Cathiard Vineyard debut is generally considered an impressive first release that significantly outperformed expectations for the smoke-affected 2020 vintage.
Wine Enthusiast
97 Points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast: "Extraordinary and opulent, this densely concentrated, luxuriously textured flagship Napa wine by Florence and Daniel Cathiard of Bordeaux is their first vintage from the former Flora Springs property. The wine is softly saturated with black currants, blueberries, spearmint and black olives for a comforting, mouth-filling expression that is at once powerful and gentle. It feels layered, deep and creamy. Best from 2027-2037. " 02/23
James Suckling
97 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Wonderful aromas of blackcurrants, dark plums, mint, sage, and dried wood. Some sandalwood. Full- to medium-bodied with tannins that have the texture of fine velvet and run down the length of the wine. Extremely polished and refined. Sophisticated. Firm at the end. This will age beautifully. Pure cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2026." 02/23
Decanter
96 Points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter: "Ripe and juicy blue fruit aromas on the nose with some soft wood spice, acaia, liquorice, a touch of California heat in the aromas but smells fresh and inviting. Clean, supple, lively, pure and focussed on the palate. Tannins take the fore, really quite mouthfilling with ash, smoke, tar, tobacco edges, leather and some meat, underpinning the blackcurrant, black cherry and blueberry fruit. Still quite tense, focused in the centre, driving from start to finish in one line, despite the slight weight and nice density of the tannins. A very soft vanilla sweetness is also apparent. It's both potent and poised, perfumed and pure. You can't get away from the liquorice and tar undercurrent that really marks the wine. Dark, savoury, brooding, a really complete wine. Lots of personality and manages the combination of having both Bordeaux and Napa sparkle. A delicious first vintage from the new Napa estate owned by Florence and Daniel Cathiard of Smith Haut Lafitte. Directors Justine Labbé and Fabien Teigen, consultants Michel Rolland and Frederick Ammons." 02/23
