Name: Cathiard Vineyard Red Blend Founding Brothers 2021 750ml
Brand: Cathiard Vineyard
SKU: 973668
Price: 196.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.2 (6 reviews)

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Winery

Cathiard Vineyard

Shop all from Cathiard Vineyard

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

California

California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.

Appellation

Napa Valley

When it comes to New World wines, and especially wines from the United States of America, Napa Valley is something of a standard bearer. Over its relatively short history, it has managed to transform itself from being a fairly insignificant region, to becoming one of the most important and highly regarding wine locations on earth. With an ideal climate for viticulture, blazing sunshine and a low level of rainfall, this valley is shielded on many sides by mountain ranges which help it maintain a consistent level of heat, light and moisture throughout the year. Today, Napa Valley is a home of innovation and quality, with dozens of grape varietals thriving in the fertile soils. However, the main varietals grown there have always been Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zinfandel, and the wines they produce are constantly lauded by critics and competitions across the globe.

DC 98pts

Decanter

The 2021 Founding Brothers is the flagship red from Napa Valley's Cathiard Vineyard, crafted from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, all from vines aged 20-30 years and aged 18 months in mostly medium toast Transais French oak barrels. 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.

WE 96pts

Wine Enthusiast

#64 in Top 100 Cellar Selections, 2025. This vibrant, refined, and lengthy blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc offers both freshness and flavor, a structure built to age, and resplendent acidity. A complex of blue and black fruits, mixed herbs, and satisfying savory flavors make it hard to resist. It will improve even more with age. Hold for several years in cellar. (Cellar Selection)

JD 96pts

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.

TWI 95pts

The Wine Independent

The 2021 Founding Brothers, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. 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.

WA 93pts

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.

WS 93pts

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. 1,250 cases made.

Winery Notes

A wine with depth and concentration displaying the true character of Rutherford dust. On the nose, dark cherries and chocolate with hints of eucalyptus which carry onto the palate are supported with fine, powdery tannins and a long finish. A true representation of what the terroir we inhabit can express