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
Featured
Côtes-du-Rhône
Côtes-du-Rhône

Blend of Grenache and Syrah in different percentage depending on the vintage knowing that it is always a dominance of Grenache. Some Carignan and Cinsault are also included in smaller amount, rarely more than 10% of each. The different varieties are co fermented after 100% destemming for about 15 days in concrete vats. Aged in concrete vats for 6 to 8 months.

Rasteau Vieilles Vignes
Rasteau Vieilles Vignes

Blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre in different proportions depending on the vintage, but it is always at least 60% of Grenache. 100% destemming of the Syrah, 90% for the vats of pure Grenache and 90% for the Grenache blended with Mourvèdre – 20 to 25 days of vatting with pumping over and release. Part of the Syrah is aged in barrels (2 or 3 wines old) during 12 months. The rest of the wine is aged in concrete vats for 18 months.

Rasteau "Les Esqueyrons"
Rasteau "Les Esqueyrons"

This cuvée is only produced in good vintages and comes from two single vineyards in the “lieu-dit” Les Esqueyrons. It is a blend of 80 years old Grenache and 60 years old Syrah. Separated vinification of the Syrah and the Grenache after 100% destemming. Daily punching of the cap and release during 25 to 30 days. Aging for 12 months of the Syrah in one-vintage used barrel. The Grenache is aged during 18 months in concrete vats. Bottled after 2 winters.

Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel NV
Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel NV

Pure 80 year old Grenache harvested in small baskets of 15 kg to avoid squashing the berries as they have reached a very high level of maturity. Pressing and vinification at low temperature between 15 and 16° C. Fortification with natural alcohol when the fermentation has reached 80 to 100 g/liter of residual sugar. Aged for 36 months, 70% in oxidative process in a broached concrete vat and 30% in an old barrel of 5 vintages-used and more.