Domaine Nico's Grand Père emerges from Mendoza's extreme high-altitude limestone terroir, a labor of love for the Catena family in one of the New World's most unusual Pinot Noir sites, with silky tannins, medium-high acidity, and aromas of fresh red fruit, earth, and violet. The lengthy finish carries a subtle herbal note, and the low perception of alcohol lets the wine's structure speak for itself. This is Pinot Noir from a place where it has no business thriving, yet does.
Winemaker Notes
Domaine Nico Grand Père displays intense aromas of fresh red fruits with subtle notes of earth, spice, and violets. It has medium-high acidity, low perception of alcohol, silky tannins, and a lengthy, slightly herbal finish.
Professional Ratings
93
Vinous“The 2021 Pinot Noir Grand Pére from Villa Bastías, Uco Valley was aged for 14 months in a fifth new barrels. Garnet red with a ruby sheen. The nose presents notes of sour cherry, strawberry and hints of herbs, cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, the flavors are intense with a taut feel, nimble, silky expression and a long, bold, fruity finish. This is a layered, nuanced Pinot.”
93
Wine Advocate“The 2021 Grand Père Pinot Noir comes from the same property as Grand Mere in Villa Bastías. But this part of the plot has a northern exposure, the soil has more sand and less stones and it doesn't have the influence from the river like the Grand Mère does. So, the exposure is warmer, but the soils are cooler, if you like, and the wines are balanced. 2021 was a cooler year, and the wine is impress
About the Producer
Domaine Nico is the world’s first extreme high-altitude parcel Pinot Noir. It is an unusual location for the New World, with limestone soil of alluvial origin and a cool climate, and it is 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 Catena 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 that’s reflective of their style.
With 3,675 to 4,921 feet of elevation, Domaine Nico is the world’s first extreme high-altitude parcel Pinot Noir. The parcels are extremely small and range within the Uco Valley from Villa Bastais to Gualtallary, all within the Tupungato region. With Domaine Nico, the Uco Valley proves itself to be a new terroir for the highest quality Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Roy Urvieta’s Agronomy Ph.D. thesis at the Universidad de Buenos Aires focused on uncovering the scientific basis for flavors. Currently, Roy is working with Laura Catena to elaborate authentic and elegant high-altitude Argentine Pinot Noir.
Domine Nico sources grapes from small parcels and produces wines from fifteen different microvinifications. Each lowproduction microvinification is fermented with indigenous yeasts, and some use whole cluster fermentation. The wine ages in French oak barrels until it’s ready for bottling.
Domaine Nico is the world’s first extreme high-altitude parcel Pinot Noir. It is an unusual location for the New World, with limestone soil of alluvial origin and a cool climate, and it is 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 Catena 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 that’s reflective of their style.
With 3,675 to 4,921 feet of elevation, Domaine Nico is the world’s first extreme high-altitude parcel Pinot Noir. The parcels are extremely small and range within the Uco Valley from Villa Bastais to Gualtallary, all within the Tupungato region. With Domaine Nico, the Uco Valley proves itself to be a new terroir for the highest quality Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Roy Urvieta’s Agronomy Ph.D. thesis at the Universidad de Buenos Aires focused on uncovering the scientific basis for flavors. Currently, Roy is working with Laura Catena to elaborate authentic and elegant high-altitude Argentine Pinot Noir.
Domine Nico sources grapes from small parcels and produces wines from fifteen different microvinifications. Each lowproduction microvinification is fermented with indigenous yeasts, and some use whole cluster fermentation. The wine ages in French oak barrels until it’s ready for bottling.
