1999 Sylvain Cathiard Vosne Romanee Aux Malconsorts

Sylvain Cathiard is a 10-acre estate in Romanee-Saint-Vivant, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Sylvain himself is a third-generation Burgundian winemaker who set up his own domaine nearly 20 years ago before returning to run the family’s domaine after his father’s retirement. He now works with his son Sebastian. Their flagship wines are Vosne-Romanee Premier Crus Les Malconsorts, En Orveau, Les Reignots and Les Suchots, and Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Crus Aux Thorey and Les Murgers. Cathiard and his wines are beloved by many wine writers, including Clive Coates, who says “there is a touch of genius here in the winemaking, resulting in bottles of exceptional purity and fragrance: Pinot Noir at its most elegant.”

Aux Malconsorts is an 14.6-acre Premier Cru vineyard in the Vosne-Romanee appellation of Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. It is on the appellation’s southern boundary with Nuits-Saints-Georges. The vineyard abuts La Tache, which is just to the north and has similar soil composition. Burgundy writer Clive Coates notes that Aux Malconsorts “can have flair, fat, finesse and a fine perfume.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.