Cathiard Vineyard, Hora, 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.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 10% Malbec

Origin
Napa Valley, California 

Winemaker Tasting Notes
Hora’s bright nose is dominated by aromas of crushed fleshy red fruit that carry onto the palate with a subtle hint of spice. A refined acidity incites tension, tempered by silky tannins and a linearity that allows for immediate enjoyment as well as age in the cellar.

97 Points - Decanter
A combination of gentle extraction, whole berry ferment, and the addition of Malbec provides lifted aromatics on a stunning, compact, and precise wine that exudes pure blackberry and black currant fruit aromas laced with cedarwood spices. Fine tannins and pronounced mid-palate depth create a wonderfully seamless mouthfeel, leading with saline-tinged blackberry fruits, cassis, and red currants. It's a very polished red with a richness that is evident but not overstated. 

94 Points - James Suckling
Lovely aromas of spices with some mahogany, red currants and perfume. It’s medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a bright and clean finish. No need to wait on this. A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 10% malbec. 

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Hora is the entry-level wine from the Cathiards’ estate in Napa, and it’s a balanced, medium to full-bodied, impressive wine offering ample red and black currant fruit, nicely integrated oak, a round, layered mouthfeel, and ripe yet building tannins. It’s impeccably made, blossoms nicely with time in the glass, and should have no problem evolving gracefully over the coming 10-12 years, if not longer.

93 Points - Vinous
The 2021 Hora, Cathiard's entry-level offering, is an absolute joy. Bright, aromatic and punchy, with tons of aromatic definition, the 2021 possesses gorgeous inner sweetness and tons of charm. Crushed flowers, red cherry fruit, plum, spice, tobacco and cedar all meld together effortlessly.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
A handsomely built red, with a tense core wrapped in richly layered currant, mocha espresso and toasty spice flavors that gather richness toward medium-grained tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2032. 1,650 cases made.

Product size: 750ml