Sylvain Cathiard Aux Malconsorts Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2003 0,75L

Sylvain Cathiard Aux Malconsorts Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru 2003

The Estate

Domaine Sylvain Cathiard stands among Vosne-Romanée’s most revered small producers, crafting wines of exceptional purity and finesse from some of the village’s finest terroirs. Founded by Sylvain Cathiard in 1985, the domaine has built its reputation on meticulous viticulture, low yields, and gentle winemaking that allows the terroir to express itself with minimal intervention.

The Cathiard family’s holdings include parcels in Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru and several Premier Cru sites, with Aux Malconsorts representing the jewel of their portfolio. Their philosophy emphasizes old vines, organic farming principles, and extended aging before release, ensuring that each wine reaches optimal harmony and complexity.

Premier Cru Terroir: Aux Malconsorts

Aux Malconsorts occupies a privileged position on the slope of Vosne-Romanée, situated directly below the Grand Cru vineyard of La Tâche and sharing similar soil composition and exposition. The climat’s name—roughly translating to “bad encounters”—belies the exceptional quality of wines produced here, which rival many Grand Crus in depth and complexity.

The vineyard’s limestone-rich soils with clay subsoil provide excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture to sustain the vines through dry periods. The gentle southeastern slope captures optimal sunlight throughout the growing season, while cool evening breezes descend from the hillside, preserving aromatic intensity and freshness. Cathiard’s old vines in this site produce concentrated yet refined fruit that expresses the sensual, perfumed character for which Aux Malconsorts is celebrated.

The 2003 Vintage

The 2003 vintage remains one of the most distinctive in Burgundy’s modern history, marked by an unprecedented heat wave that swept across Europe during the summer months. The extreme temperatures accelerated ripening and produced wines of exceptional concentration, richness, and alcohol levels rarely seen in the region. While challenging for many producers, the finest domaines with old vines and careful vineyard management produced wines of remarkable depth and character.

Over two decades since harvest, the 2003s have evolved beautifully, developing complex tertiary aromatics while maintaining surprising freshness. For collectors seeking mature, fully evolved Burgundy with generous fruit and savory complexity, 2003 offers exceptional pleasure and value.

Tasting Experience

• The bouquet opens with ripe black cherry, plum, and wild strawberry, layered with notes of violet, sweet spice, and subtle earth that reflect both the terroir and the vintage’s warmth.
• With age, tertiary aromas of leather, forest floor, and dried herbs have emerged, adding depth and complexity to the wine’s aromatic profile.
• On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and velvety, showing a generous core of ripe fruit balanced by fine-grained tannins and a polished, integrated structure.
• Despite the heat of the vintage, the wine retains remarkable harmony and finesse, testament to Cathiard’s meticulous craftsmanship and the quality of old-vine fruit from Aux Malconsorts.
• The finish is long and supple, marked by spice, dark fruit, and mineral undertones that linger gracefully on the palate.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 16-18°C in large Burgundy stems to showcase the wine’s evolved aromatics and silky texture. Gentle decanting (30 minutes) is recommended to awaken the wine, though handle carefully as mature Pinot Noir can be fragile. This is a fully evolved Burgundy ready to drink and enjoy now.

Exceptional pairings:

• Roasted duck breast with cherry-port reduction
• Braised lamb shoulder with herbs de Provence
• Wild mushroom and truffle risotto
• Beef bourguignon prepared with mature Burgundy
• Aged Comté, Époisses, or other washed-rind cheeses

Cellaring & Evolution

At over 20 years of age, the 2003 Aux Malconsorts has reached full maturity and is drinking beautifully now. The wine shows the classic evolution of mature Burgundy—tertiary complexity, integrated tannins, and harmonious balance between fruit and savory elements. This is a wine to enjoy over the next 3-5 years while it maintains its structure and vibrancy. Store bottles upright if planning to consume within months, or continue horizontal storage in a cool (12-14°C), stable environment if cellaring longer.