Luca Nico by Luca 2020 | Argentina

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WINE OVERVIEW

Luca is Laura Catena's passion project to rescue old vines and produce wines that express the history and soul of Mendoza's century-old vineyards. She believes that “old vines are family” and strives to highlight the vignerons behind the wines and preserve the genetic diversity of Mendoza's historic vines. Luca purchases fruit from small growers, allowing these families to continue farming for another generation. She replants her vineyards using massale selections from Mendoza's 100-year-old vineyards. The historic G-Lot parcels of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Gualtallary were planted over 30 years ago and are at the edge of where grapes can ripen in Mendoza, at nearly 5,000 feet elevation. Laura Catena is a 4th generation vintner, mother of three, author, ER doctor, and one of the wine industry's most prominent voices. In 2023, she was given the first "Old Vine Hero" award by The Old Vine Conference. Luis Reginato works beside Laura as Luca's winemaker and the Vineyard Director for Catena Zapata Family Vineyards. Luca has had 10 wines recognized as Top 100 Wine of the Year. Luca is named after Laura's first son, who was born the same year the brand was founded.

Noteworthy Distictions

Tasting Notes

Deep, dark color—you could use it in an inkwell! Dense and concentrated but never loses its ability to exude the red and black fruits and spice that are the true expression of Malbec in Mendoza. This is a huge wine that is a blend of old-vine grapes from 2 of Mendoza’s most respected growers, located in two different districts. Only 4 barrels produced. While you certainly could drink this now, it will improve considerably with 3-5 years in the bottle. If you do drink it now, decant a few hours before drinking.

Food Pairing

Try with meats such as beef, pork or chicken. Pairs well with aged cheeses.

Descorchados

The 2020 Malbec Nico by Luca is from a vineyard planted at 5,000 feet above sea level in Gualtallary, Uco Valley and was aged for 20 months in 50% new 500-liter barrels. A rich purple in the glass. The nose has plenty of garrigue to it, with prominent mountain herbs mingling with red and dark fruit such as plum, blackcurrant and violets. The palate is dry and lean, with fine, chalky tannins. A refreshing, juicy red with a savory, almost saline finish. This is a delightful high-altitude Malbec from a warm, dry year. Vinous June 2023

An intense, peppery malbec with tons of blackberries, wet stones, violets and a saline edge. Compact and mineral on the palate with really silky and chalky tannins. Concentrated and broad, but quite juicy and drinkable. Drink or hold. James Suckling April 2023

The Luca wines are fresher and much less oaky than they used to be, typified by the quality of this intensely perfumed Gualtallary Malbec that used genetic material from the Rosas family’s vineyard in La Consulta. Textured and fleshy, it has some subtle reduction, blackberry, fennel and blood orange flavours, fine tannins and well-handled 500-litre barrels. 2024-30 Tim Atkin 2023

The 2020 Nico By Luca Malbec shows restraint, contained ripeness for a warm year and sweet Malbec fruit with some spicy and smoky undertones and a mixture of flowers, berries and herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied with abundant and fine tannins. Wine Advocate November 2022

Tech Details

Hand-harvested from vineyards located in Gualtallary Alto (Uco Valley). The vineyard was planted in 2012 from ancient plants brought from the Rosas vineyard, planted in 1937. The soil is comprised of sandy loam and calcareous soil with deep boulder-type stones of alluvial origin.

The wine is aged for 18-24 months, 50% in new and 50% 2nd use French oak barrels.