Cathiard Vineyard, Founding Brothers, Napa Valley, 2021

Overview of the Wine
Two brothers, James and William Rennie, immigrated from Scotland to the Napa Valley and purchased the property in 1885.

They planted sixty acres of grapes covering the Rutherford and St. Helena AVAs, and built their stone gravity-flow winery.

The Rennie Brothers were the descendants of British engineers (their uncle, sir John Rennie, was knighted for his work in completing the London Bridge), and they carried this creative and innovative spirit as they constructed Rennie Brothers Winery, built an estate, and financed many local bridges including the current Pope Street stone bridge in St. Helena.

They were the first in the state to use a gasoline-powered engine to crush their grapes, and they developed some well extracted vintages.

Their dreams were cut short when two unfortunate situations arose. A fire broke out, burning their press and all their barrels. In addition, phylloxera was making its way throughout Napa Valley, bringing an end to the brothers’ winemaking journey.

The property changed hands and the winery was shuttered in 1920 with Prohibition.

The beautiful old stone winery became one of many that were built between 1860 and 1900 that eventually fell into disuse in the Napa Valley. Intact but untouched for many years, these wineries came to be known as ghost wineries.

Then followed a series of exciting and historic changes. In 1933, Louis Martini purchased the property and built in the early ‘40s a large wood house where he lived with his family. In the late ‘70s, he sold to the Komes-Garvey family who then sold to the Cathiard family in January 2020.

Florence and Daniel Cathiard purchased the estate after falling in love with its biodiversity. This connection to nature has been the cornerstone of their properties in Bordeaux, including Château Smith Haut Lafitte which they have owned since 1990.

As young and ambitious athletes, the Cathiards both became high level ski champions. Focused but also dreamers, they visited America for the first time in 1969 to attend Woodstock festival, one of the most significant events of their generation.

Their respect for nature and the arts is now expressed at Cathiard Vineyard.

59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc

Origin
Napa Valley, California 

Winemaker Tasting Notes
Founding Brothers is a dynamic example of the Rutherford terroir, composed of an expressive nose filled with black fruit and licorice. The 2021 vintage showcases flavors of dark cocoa alongside a delicate yet firm grip of tannins that coat the palate long after the first sip. A resolute and serious wine that will deliver for many years to come.

98 Points - Decanter
Exquisite red florals lead the way on this nicely aromatic red, nuanced by savoury wild herbs and pops of liquorice and earth. The palate fruit is on the velvety side, with a medium body feel, great freshness, and a deep vein of ironstone minerals that last through a minute-long finish. That fruit is wonderfully pure and expressive—evoking spiced plums, cherries, and pomegranate—with tannins that feel intricate and super-fine, all woven together nicely and creating a smooth expression throughout. 

96 Points - James Suckling
This is a very transparent and aromatic wine with flowers, currants and citrus character. Some pine needles. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine and caresses your palate. Very fine and beautiful. 

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Founding Brothers is brilliant and has a certain Saint Julien-like style in its pure cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, and floral aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied 2021 that's beautifully concentrated, has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and one great finish. This comes from an incredible terroir and is based on 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc. It's slightly more accessible than the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for just as long, given its beautiful balance and harmony. 

95 Points - Wine Independent
It prances out with showy notes of blackcurrant jelly, plum preserves, and wild blueberries plus hints of cardamom, iron ore, star anise, and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a firm, grainy texture and beautifully knit freshness to support the bright black and blue fruit layers, finishing long and mineral-laced. 

95 Points - Vinous
The 2021 Founding Brothers is seriously impressive. Dark, pliant and explosive, with real depth, the 2021 is hugely promising. The intensity, substance and resonance here all suggest a superb wine in the making.

93 Points - Wine Advocate
In effect the second wine of the estate, the 2021 Founding Brothers Red Wine is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc matured roughly 17 months in 50% new French oak, with 20% kept in larger foudres. Faintly leafy notes and a hint of mint appear on the nose, which is otherwise dominated by cherry fruit. In the mouth, this wine is medium to full-bodied but substantially ups the intensity from the 2021 Hora bottling, finishing tart and tight, with mouthwatering length. - Joe Czerwinski 

93 Points - Wine Spectator
Dark and winey, offering deliciously steeped boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors laced with hints of tobacco, charcoal, bay and menthol through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2038. - JM 

Product size: 750ml