Luca Pinot Noir G-Lot 2024

Luca is the personal label of Laura Catena, of the Catena Zapata family, and it draws on the high vineyards of the Uco Valley in Mendoza. Pinot Noir is a difficult grape in warm Argentina, but altitude is the answer here: the cool mountain nights and a wide diurnal range slow ripening, hold acidity and keep the wine fresh and red fruited rather than heavy. The fruit is grown organically, and the wine ages ten months in French oak, which softens the tannins through gentle oxygen exchange and frames the fruit with a light vanilla spice rather than dominating it. The colour is a bright, translucent ruby. The nose offers fresh cherry and raspberry with a floral, almost rose petal lift and a turn of earth, while the palate is medium bodied, supple and brisk, finishing on tart red fruit and fine tannin. Serve cool, around 14 to 16 degrees. Its acidity and red fruit make it a versatile partner for poultry, game birds and earthy mushroom dishes.