Domaine Nico Grand Père Pinot Noir 2020

Domaine Nico Grand Père Pinot Noir 2020

 

Zoom Mouse over image to zoom
Domaine Nico
Grand Père Pinot Noir 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : Argentina
  • Region : Mendoza
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Fruity Medium Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Pinot Noir

Domaine Nico Grand Père is an elegant, classic Pinot Noir from Villa Bastias in the Uco Valley, honoring the wisdom and love of the elder generation with complex red fruit and refined structure.

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 94 2020
TA Tim Atkin 93 2020
RP Robert Parker 92 2020
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 90 2020
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Villa Bastias vineyard, located in Tupungato, within the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina, sits at an altitude of 3,675 feet. Planted in 1993 with Dijon clones, this 5-hectare site benefits from a cool, shaded microclimate that is less exposed to direct sunlight than the adjacent Grand Mère parcel. The soils here are a mix of gravel and clay-loam, providing excellent drainage and adding mineral complexity to the wine. The shaded, high-altitude conditions allow the grapes to mature slowly, resulting in delicate red fruit flavors and lively acidity.

The low-yielding vines of this older vineyard express a unique balance and intensity, with careful hand-picking and sorting to capture the nuanced fruit profile that defines this wine.

Winemaking

The Domaine Nico Grand Père is crafted with a traditional, low-intervention approach to protect the delicate character of the Pinot Noir. Fermentation is carried out with 20% whole clusters, using indigenous yeasts in a combination of 600L oak roll-fermentors and 50% stainless-steel tanks. Hand punch-downs are conducted for gentle extraction, maintaining a maximum fermentation temperature of 25°C over a 7 to 14-day maceration period.

After fermentation, the wine is aged for 15 months in French oak barrels (25% new, 75% second-use) to ensure subtle oak integration. A full malolactic fermentation in barrel rounds out the acidity and adds complexity.

Tasting Notes

  • Aroma: Intense aromas of fresh red fruits with hints of earth and minerality.
  • Palate: Medium-high acidity, with fine, silky tannins and a delicate structure. The fruit is vibrant and concentrated, leading to a long, refined finish.
  • Finish: Lingering with a mineral backbone and a smooth, elegant fade.

Did you know?

The name “Grand Père” is a tribute to the wisdom and nurturing influence of grandparents, inspired by the profound respect winemaker Laura Catena has for the role of elders. The shaded vineyard and low-yielding old vines create a Pinot Noir that reflects the patience and care often associated with the older generation.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart: The earthy mushrooms and tangy goat cheese bring out the wine’s minerality and enhance the delicate tannins.
  • Roasted Beet Salad with Hazelnuts and Arugula: The wine’s vibrant acidity complements the sweetness of roasted beets, while the nuts add a subtle crunch that pairs beautifully with its silky texture.
  • Duck Confit with Pomegranate Reduction: The fruitiness of the pomegranate and the richness of duck highlight the wine’s red berry notes and structured tannins.
  • Herbed Quinoa-Stuffed Zucchini: The lightness and herbal notes of the zucchini and quinoa pairing enhance the wine’s fresh acidity and elegant palate.

History of Domaine Nico Estate

Domaine Nico was founded by Laura Catena, a fourth-generation winemaker from the prominent Catena family, known worldwide for elevating the profile of Argentinian wines. Laura is not only a visionary in the wine industry but also a trained biologist and medical doctor. Her extensive background in science shapes her approach to viticulture and winemaking, allowing her to marry empirical precision with the artistry of wine.

Inspired by her deep appreciation for Pinot Noir and the wines of Burgundy, Laura established Domaine Nico with a clear mission: to explore how this delicate grape variety could thrive in the unique, high-altitude terroirs of Mendoza. The name Domaine Nico is a tribute to her daughter, Nico, symbolizing a legacy of innovation and dedication to winemaking. Since its first vintage in 2017, Domaine Nico has set out to redefine Argentinian Pinot Noir, focusing on single-vineyard expressions that highlight the intricacies of the Gualtallary terroir.

Winemaker Roy Urvieta collaborates closely with Laura, bringing his expertise in terroir-driven wines to Domaine Nico’s micro-winery setup. Together, they employ minimal intervention techniques, allowing the vineyard's natural characteristics to shine in each vintage. This approach has allowed Domaine Nico to achieve a level of finesse and complexity that sets a new benchmark for Argentinian Pinot Noir.

Region and Vineyards

Domaine Nico’s vineyards are located in Gualtallary, a high-altitude sub-region within the Tupungato area of the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Situated at altitudes that reach 1,750 meters (5,740 feet), these vineyards benefit from a unique combination of intense sunlight and cooler temperatures, which allows for a slower ripening process. This high altitude contributes to natural acidity and balanced tannins, hallmarks of Domaine Nico’s Pinot Noir wines.

The gravel and clay-loam soils in Gualtallary offer excellent drainage and are mineral-rich, which enhances the wines with a distinctive minerality and depth. This terroir-driven character is amplified by the area’s natural irrigation from Andean snowmelt, ensuring that the vines are nurtured by pure, mineral-laden water. Gualtallary is well-regarded for its expressive and mineral-driven wines, making it an ideal location for Domaine Nico’s focus on precise, site-specific Pinot Noir.

Wine Range

Domaine Nico specializes in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, with a range that highlights various vineyard plots and soil types within Gualtallary. The winery produces limited quantities, focusing on small-lot wines crafted with meticulous care.

Key wines include La Savante and Histoire d'A, each reflecting a unique aspect of the terroir. For instance, La Savante emphasizes mineral notes and herbaceous qualities, while Histoire d'A showcases red fruit and spice. Domaine Nico’s wines are crafted to express the diversity of Gualtallary’s soils and elevations, each bottle offering a distinct expression of its specific vineyard origin.

Did You Know?

Domaine Nico was created as an homage to the intellectual and artistic qualities of women, with each wine named to reflect Laura Catena’s vision of femininity that is strong, thoughtful, and complex. The name La Savante means "The Scholar" in French, celebrating Laura’s scientific background and her commitment to combining academic precision with winemaking artistry.

James Suckling (JS) : 94 Points (2020)
This has intense, engaging aromas of dried cherries, grilled plums, chocolate, hazelnuts, dried orange peel and nutmeg. It’s medium-to full-bodied with silky tannins. Supple, bright and packed with sun-kissed fruit and spice. There’s plenty of tension, too. Tight finish. Best after 2024.

Tim Atkin (TA) : 93 Points (2020)
Like its stable mate, Grand Mère, this Villa Bastías Pinot Noir is made with the 115 and 667 clones, but comes from a vineyard with even less topsoil. Pale, delicate and refined, with lovely zip and energy, red cherry and raspberry fruit and fine, palate-caressing tannins.

Robert Parker (RP) : 92 Points (2020)
The difference between the 2020 Grand Père Pinot Noir and the Grand Mère comes from the soils, and this suffers less in warmer years because the plants get less stressed and have more water. So, within the riper style of the year, this has more austerity, but it's still juicy, medium-bodied and fine-boned, with 13% alcohol and some spiciness from the barrels in the finish. Best after 2022.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 90 Points (2020)
The 2020 Pinot Noir Grand Père from Villa Bastías, Uco Valley, was a third fermented in whole bunches before aging for 15 months in 20% new barrels. Cherry red in the glass, the aromatic profile features dried flowers, sour cherry and notes from the aging process as well as wax and herbs. Silky with fresh energy, herbal and clove flavors develop at the back of the mouth and are enhanced by the precise acidity; however, the tannins are a little rustic. Not as refined as in other years.

Domaine Nico Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
Domaine Nico Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
Domaine Nico
Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
VN
91
TA
93
JS
94
With low-yielding vines planted in 1993 at high altitude, Grand Mère showcases the depth and finesse of old-vine Pinot Noir from Mendoza’s premium high-altitude terroir.
25,40 €
instead of 29,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Domaine Nico La Savante Pinot Noir 2020
Domaine Nico La Savante Pinot Noir 2020
Domaine Nico
La Savante Pinot Noir 2020
RP
95
VN
93
TA
95
La Savante presents a balanced structure with herbaceous notes and a nuanced minerality, an homage to the scholarly women it represents – both thoughtful and captivating.
54,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Domaine Nico Histoire d
Domaine Nico Histoire d'A Pinot Noir 2021
Domaine Nico
Histoire d'A Pinot Noir 2021
WS
90
RP
95
VN
95
With vines planted in 1998 at an impressive 1,350 meters, Histoire d’A reflects the rugged elegance of Argentina’s premier high-altitude Pinot Noir.
54,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Domaine Nico Le Paradis Pinot Noir 2018
Domaine Nico Le Paradis Pinot Noir 2018
Domaine Nico
Le Paradis Pinot Noir 2018
RP
96
VN
94
TA
94
Domaine Nico Le Paradis is a high-altitude 100% Pinot Noir from Gualtallary, Tupungato, in Mendoza, Argentina, showcasing elegance, minerality, and precision through its unique terroir and meticulous vinification process.
297,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
-15%
25,40 €
instead of 29,90 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
We also suggest...
Argentina
94 James Suckling
Domaine Nico Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
Domaine Nico Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
With low-yielding vines planted in 1993 at high altitude, Grand Mère showcases the depth and finesse of old-vine Pinot Noir from Mendoza’s premium high-altitude terroir.
Grand Mère Pinot Noir 2020
-15%
25,40 €
instead of 29,90 €
promo
Argentina
92 James Suckling
Bodega Colome Estate Torrontes 2022
Bodega Colome Estate Torrontes 2022
Bodega Colomé Estate Torrontés is an exquisite white wine crafted from Argentina’s flagship native white grape, Torrontés. This wine captures the unique aromatic expression and freshness that define the Torrontés varietal.
Estate Torrontes 2022
18,90 €
New Zealand
93 James Suckling
Mahi Pinot Noir 2021
Mahi Pinot Noir 2021
Perhaps the most texturally enticing of all the grape varieties, and a total passion for us at Mahi. Again our aim is to make wines of the earth, showing complex savouriness characters aligned with both red and black fruit notes.
Pinot Noir 2021
29,50 €
New Zealand
Nautilus Estate Opawa Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Nautilus Estate Opawa Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Wine Spectator TOP 2018 - The 2016 Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc displays intense aromas of ripe passionfruit, elderflower, limes and fresh herbs. The palate introduces a delightful lime/citrus based mouth-watering intensity and finishes with a strong textural component.
Opawa Sauvignon Blanc 2022
21,50 €
Australia
95 James Halliday
Cullen Grace Madeline Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Cullen Grace Madeline Sauvignon Blanc 2022
The Cullen Grace Madeline is an exceptional biodynamic white blend that captures the pure essence of Margaret River with bright acidity and mineral depth.
Grace Madeline Sauvignon Blanc 2022
37,90 €
Argentina
95 Robert Parker
Zuccardi Concreto 2021
Zuccardi Concreto 2021
Sourced from stone-rich and calcareous soils in the Uco Valley, this 100% Malbec is fermented and aged entirely in concrete, amplifying the energy and purity of the terroir.
Concreto 2021
32,90 €