Winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez Rave has a great story in wine. She immersed herself into French culture, moving to France and in 2001 earning a BTS degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cognac followed by a degree in Enology from the University of Bordeaux. She worked at Domaine Stéphane Ogier, then at Domaine Clusel-Roch. At the famed estates of Château Haut-Brion & La Mission Haut-Brion, I completed research for her thesis. She then worked for other family-owned wine producers in Burgundy, Alsace, and Cognac before moving to California. The winery name is inspired by the Cattleya Trinae, an epiphytic orchid that grows abundantly throughout Colombia. It is the national flower as Bibiana is originally from Medellin in Columbia.
The wines are really good across the board. I really enjoyed the 2023 Alma de Catteya Rose (OB, 90) which is delicate and juicy. A delicious, warm vintage Pinot, the 2022 Cattleya ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) offers the classic cola tones while having good underlying acidity. Learn more about these wines at https://cattleyawines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Cattleya wines.
2023 Alma de Catteya Rose- Pale in the glass, this 2023 Rose shows off delicate red fruits with crushed red flowers and suggestions of white tea. The palate is soft with copious minerals. 100% Pinot Noir. Drink now. Drink 2024-2028- 90
2023 Alma de Catteya ‘Sonoma County’ Sauvignon Blanc- A really delicious wine from 2023, this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers a smooth texture with juicy kiwi and cantaloupe flavors alongside copious minerals. Really nice in terms of body and flavor density, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2022 Catteya ‘Cuvee Number Five’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, the 2022 Catteya ‘Cuvee Number Five’ Chardonnay is beautifully textured stuff with juicy pear and vanilla cream notes on the palate, offering good weight and poise from this warm vintage. Unabashedly big and showing good salty nuances, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2022 Cattleya ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Juicy red plum and black raspberry mark the nose on this 2022 Pinot Noir. Salty accents and bright red fruits combine with citrus peel on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2022 Cattleya ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- A gorgeous wine that exudes Sonoma character from this very warm vintage, the 2022 Cattleya ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers rich bing cherry and cola notes on the palate, with a smooth texture and good sense of length. Enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2022 Alma de Catteya ‘Sonoma County’ Pinot Noir- This offers straightforward juicy red currants and strawberry flavors with a dusting of sea salt. Medium-bodied and a touch sweet, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 89
2022 Alma de Catteya ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Alma de Catteya ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers anise and dark currants on the nose with loamy soils and shades of black licorice. The palate is juicy and rich with sweetened black fruit flavors. A bit out of balance, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 89