Cathiard Vineyard
Hora Napa Valley Red Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
The Hora is their entry level wine from the young vines on their Estate.
It’s the lighter side of Bordeaux blended fruits; dark cherries, strawberries, blackberries. The body is thinner. More fruity & red floral than their Founders and Cathiard but certainly pleasurable to enjoy earlier inside 15 yrs.
Photos of my visit today. Impressive they copper all their own barrels. Believe they are the only ones in the Napa Valley that do.
Owners & founders since 2020 and is the same ownership as Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux.
The Hora is their entry level wine from the young vines on their Estate.
It’s the lighter side of Bordeaux blended fruits; dark cherries, strawberries, blackberries. The body is thinner. More fruity & red floral than their Founders and Cathiard but certainly pleasurable to enjoy earlier inside 15 yrs.
Photos of my visit today. Impressive they copper all their own barrels. Believe they are the only ones in the Napa Valley that do.
Owners & founders since 2020 and is the same ownership as Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Inky in color with a reddish rim.
Pretty nose with cedar, chocolates, black fruits and spices.
Full-bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, licorice, chocolates, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, espresso and light cola.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from the problematic 2020 vintage in Napa Valley.
Complex and engaging. Elegant, rich and fruit forward. I really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
A great sipping wine. Nice to see low alcohol from Napa Valley.
Wine Enthusiasts 94 points. Wine Advocate 90 points.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Aged for 12 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels.
13.6% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Inky in color with a reddish rim.
Pretty nose with cedar, chocolates, black fruits and spices.
Full-bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, licorice, chocolates, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, espresso and light cola.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from the problematic 2020 vintage in Napa Valley.
Complex and engaging. Elegant, rich and fruit forward. I really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
A great sipping wine. Nice to see low alcohol from Napa Valley.
Wine Enthusiasts 94 points. Wine Advocate 90 points.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Aged for 12 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels.
13.6% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Full-bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, light herbs, light black tea and black pepper.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins, spices and cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and restrained.
Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 90 minutes of airtime, when more structure and tannins show up. Gets earthier after two and a half hours in the decanter. Nose opens up after 2 hours.
This 2020 vintage was a tough vintage, but this wine is showing beautifully now, as a 4-year-old. I just love these Bordeaux blends from Napa.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years. Would be nice to try it again in 4 years, and see how it evolves.
Loved to see a low alcohol Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
I paired it with cheeses, crackers and prosciutto. A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Aged for 12 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels.
13.6% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Full-bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, light herbs, light black tea and black pepper.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins, spices and cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and restrained.
Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 90 minutes of airtime, when more structure and tannins show up. Gets earthier after two and a half hours in the decanter. Nose opens up after 2 hours.
This 2020 vintage was a tough vintage, but this wine is showing beautifully now, as a 4-year-old. I just love these Bordeaux blends from Napa.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years. Would be nice to try it again in 4 years, and see how it evolves.
Loved to see a low alcohol Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
I paired it with cheeses, crackers and prosciutto. A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Aged for 12 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels.
13.6% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Malbec (10%, which is quite noticeable). Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of ripe dark fruit, mint, cedar and wet clay/stones. Flavors of black cherry/berry/currant, coffee, black licorice and chocolate. Long and savory finish. Incredibly smooth tannins and light acidity. Thanks for the taste, Kase.
Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Malbec (10%, which is quite noticeable). Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of ripe dark fruit, mint, cedar and wet clay/stones. Flavors of black cherry/berry/currant, coffee, black licorice and chocolate. Long and savory finish. Incredibly smooth tannins and light acidity. Thanks for the taste, Kase.
Aug 27th, 2025
2020 vintage. Just okay for the price. Medium body. No middle palate or finish to speak of. Front-loaded. Perhaps next vintage. I believe this is the inaugural vintage. Tough year to start up the engine.From some little concern in France known as Smith-Haut-Lafitte. 5.9.24.
2020 vintage. Just okay for the price. Medium body. No middle palate or finish to speak of. Front-loaded. Perhaps next vintage. I believe this is the inaugural vintage. Tough year to start up the engine.From some little concern in France known as Smith-Haut-Lafitte. 5.9.24.
May 9th, 2024
Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions
Joe had this 6 months ago
Joe had this 6 months ago
Apr 25th, 2025
