Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with foods such as venison or wild game, steak, pork, quail, all types of lamb, and medium-strong cheeses.
Blend: 100% Malbec
Luca is Certified Sustainable by Bodegas de Argentina
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lots of mountain herbs, mussel shells and sour black cherries. Full, fleshy and fresh on the palate with fine, silty tannins and a juicy, rather minerally finish. Long and tight but caressing and pretty transparent and tactile on the palate.
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Vinous
The 2022 Malbec Old Vine hails from La Consulta, Paraje Altamira and Pampa El Cepillo. This purple-hued wine features aromas of tea, violet, blackberry and hints of lavender. It is juicy with a smooth texture, showcasing plush tannins and a degree of compactness. The palate offers a hint of oak and the wine is broad with intense flavors. The 2022 vintage delivers a balanced and concentrated mouthfeel.
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Wine Enthusiast
This Malbec from Uco Valley starts with delicate leafy aromas that introduce a concentrated palate of plums, cherries and a touch of tobacco. It's well structured and finishes with a dash of savory herbs.
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Wine Spectator
A straightforward juicy style that bursts with hibiscus-laced cherry and berry flavors, backed by hints of vanilla bean on the finish. Drink now. 15,000 cases made, 7,500 cases imported.
Laura Catena is a fourth generation winemaker who grew up in a traditional Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Laura splits her time between Mendoza and San Francisco, California, where she is an emergency physician, university professor and occasional tango dancer. Laura had the vision of creating a new breed of Argentine wines: small quantities, artisan quality, and true to their individual terroirs. A pioneer of small-grower relations in Mendoza, Laura's incredible, limited production wines come from some of Argentina's best fruit from low-yield, high-elevation, family-owned vineyards. The wines are named after her children - Luca, Dante and Nicola - and symbolize her love for her family. The background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.