Domaine Grand Nicolet, Jean-Pierre Bertrand
France, Rhône, Rasteau
Sustainable
Jean-Pierre Bertrand, son-in-law of the Nicolet family, possesses some of the oldest and best situated vines of Rasteau. The first hectare of the estate was planted in 1875. Their cellar was built in 1926 and was the first private cellar of Rasteau. The real start in vine growing was in 1930, when Maurice Leyraud (the grandfather of Jean Pierre’s wife) decided to plant Grenache and Carignan, instead of grains and olive trees. In 1989, at the age of 24, Jean-Pierre started to work on the estate and in 1999 he took over management of the entire estate. Today, Jean Pierre is running a 30 Ha estate and annually produces nearly 150 Hl in Côtes-du-Rhône, 700 Hl in Rasteau and 30 Hl of Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau. The estate is composed mostly of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, on clay and limestone soil with layers of blue marl underground. The soils are worked according to the agriculture “lutte raisonnée” with plowing, scraping of the surface and use of organic manure. All grapes are entirely hand-harvested with sorting done in on the vines, in the harvest bins in the vineyard and at the entrance to the cellar. Harvest is 100% destemmed for most cuvées and vinification takes place in concrete tanks and old French oak barrels.
Technical Information
Wine | Varietals | Vine Age | Soil Type | Farming Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Côtes-du-Rhône | Mostly Grenache and Syrah, some Carignan and Cinsault | 35 years | Limestone, clay with "Plan de Dieu" rocks | Sustainable |
Rasteau Vieilles Vignes | Mostly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre | 50 years | Clay and stony soil over blue marl | Sustainable |
Rasteau "Les Esqueyrons" | Grenache and Syrah | 80 and 60 years | Clay and stony soil over blue marl | Sustainable |
Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel NV | Grenache | 80 years | Clay and stony soil over blue marl | Sustainable |