Vineyard

Domaine Grand Nicolet

  • Owner : Family Nicolet-Leyraud
  • Location : Rasteau (near Gigondas and Vacqueyras, Rhône Valley)
  • AOC : Rasteau, Sablet
  • Grape varieties : Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault
  • Terroirs : sand - chalk soils
  • Work philosophy : traditional
  • One Wine : Les Esqueyrons 2016 - 93 pts Parker

The Story

Joseph Nicolet is the precusor in the family's estate story. Back in 1875, only 1 hectare was grown. He gave his name Nicolet to his estate in 1926. Passed on generations, the estate now expands on 31 hectares and is run by Jean-Pierre Bertrand, who married Joseph great-granddaughter. The vineyard is split on 3,5 hectares on Sablet appellation and 27,5 on Rasteau appellation. Sablet is on a sandy and limestone soil, and gives fruity wines, and Rasteau is on limestones with ocher, yellow clay and blue marl, which gives more powerful wines. Average age of the vineyard : 50 years old, the oldest being 80 years old.

The Wine Selection