2021 Domaine Nico “Grand Pre” Pinot Noir, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

ABOUT THIS WINE

Villa Bastias is located in Tupungato within the Uco Valley. The vineyard is old and planted with Dijon Clones in 1993. The Grand Pre parcel is more shaded than the sunnier Grand Mere section, with delicate red fruits and high acidity. Wine-making is traditional and gentle for these delicate wines. Yields are extremely low in both sites due to the age of the vineyard.

Fermented with 20% whole clusters and indigenous year in Oak roll-fermentor of 600L and 50% stainless-steel tanks. Punch-down extraction was done by hand with max temperature reaching 25 Celsius for 7-14 days. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Nico is the world’s first extreme high-altitude parcela Pinot Noir. It is an unusual location for the New World with limestone soil of alluvial origin and cool climate and a labor of love for the Catena family.

The vineyard is named after Laura’s daughter, Nicola, whose name pays homage to Nicola Catena, Laura’s great-grandfather and founder of the Catena winery in 1902.

Laura has been in love with Pinot Noir since her first travels to France as a teenager. A self-avowed francophile, Laura studied French throughout university. She has a lifelong obsession with authors Sartre and Camus, as well as with the Louvre and the Centre Georges Pompidou, where she has spent countless hours.

With Domaine Nico, Laura borrows from France in the names of the wine parcels and in the concept of individual terroirs, but also plays with the words to give the wines a modern twist thats reflective of their style.