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Cream Wine Company
118 N. Peoria St., 3rd Fl
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 421-1900 tel
(312) 421-1977 fax
service@creamwine.com

Home | Producers | Luca

Luca

www.vineconnections.com/viewbrand.php?c=1&bid=8
Laura Catena
Laura Catena
Country of Origin: Argentina
Location: Agrelo
People: Laura Catena, Owner | Luis Reginato, Winemaker
Supplier: www.vineconnections.com


Laura Catena has a vision of creating a new breed of Argentine wines: small quantities, artisan quality, and true to their individual terroirs. She starts with some of Argentina's best fruit from low-yield, high elevation vineyards. State-of-the-art winemaking and oak aging (primarily French) elevate the wines to a quality level demanded by true wine connoisseurs. The final varietal blends deliver power along with complexity and finesse. They are the ultimate expression of rigorous vineyard management, viticultural experimentation, strict irrigation controls, skilled winemaking, and a quest for quality at any cost. Her current releases include Syrah, Beso de Dante, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Luca is named after Laura Catena's son. The family crest (the McDermott family) that appears in the label's background is that of Laura's husband, Dan. Laura is continually inspired by the synthesis of cultures in her own family, and this international inspiration infuses the style and quality of her wines.Luis Reginato is the winemaker at Luca Winery as of the 2002 vintage. Luis is young, but is already a highly trained and respected vineyard consultant and winemaker with long experience at his family's winery in Mendoza. Laura Catena has a knack for spotting up and coming talent, and Luis'wines are already garnering high praise from U.S. wine critics. Definitely a winemaker to watch.

Quick Facts:
-Laura pioneered small-grower relations in Mendoza.
-Only the best fruit from low-yield, high-elevation vineyards.
-Spare no-expense artisan winemaking.
-Incredible, limited production wines.
Items
Luca 2007 Chardonnay, Mendoza Net Price Reviews Downloads
Luca 2007 'Beso de Dante' (Bordeaux Blend), Altos de Mendoza Net Price Reviews Downloads New!
Luca 2005 Malbec 'Nico', Mendoza Net Price Reviews —
Luca (1.5 LTR) 2008 Malbec, Mendoza (wooden box) Net Price — —
Luca 2008 Malbec, Mendoza Net Price Reviews Downloads New!
Luca 2008 Pinot Noir, Mendoza Net Price Reviews Downloads
Luca 2008 Syrah 'Laborde Double Select,' Mendoza Net Price Reviews Downloads
Reviews
Luca 2007 Chardonnay, Mendoza
Rating: 88

Soft, with melon, fig and pear tartine notes gliding over a buttery frame. There's a lingering hint of toasted hazelnut on the rich finish. A crowd-pleasing style. Drink now. 1,100 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (11/15/2008)

Luca 2006 'Beso de Dante'(Bordeaux Blend)
Rating: 93

Very dark, with fig, cocoa and ganache notes backed by coffee, black licorice and loam. Long and rich through the finish, with raspberry and linzer torte notes echoing, but well-rounded, with enough freshness for balance. Should age nicely. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2013. 200 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (10/31/2008)

Luca 2006 'Beso de Dante'(Bordeaux Blend)
Rating: 90

Deep ruby. Superripe aromas of cassis and licorice; verging on porty. Fat, lush and sweet but not especially deep, with a flamboyantly high-toned quality to the dark fruit and nutty oak flavors. Offers a distinctly open-knit texture and unrestrained quality for a wine from Laura Catena. Finishes a bit soft, with broad ripe tannins and more nutty oak. Conveys an impression of fast-ripening fruit and should provide early pleasure.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2009)

Luca 2007 Chardonnay, Mendoza
Rating: 91

Full ruby. Very ripe, slow-to-open nose eventually reveals complex aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and clove. Fat, sweet and pliant, with a creamy quality to the dark fruit and sweet oak flavors. Shows a bit more lift than the 2006, along with lovely depth and ripeness. The cabernet element adds firmness to the wine's tannins. Broad and long on the back end. Proprietor Laura Catena was among the first producers in Argentina to purchase fruit from small growers by the hectare rather than by the ton.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2010)

Luca 2007 'Beso de Dante'(Bordeaux Blend)
Rating: 92

Packed with melted licorice snap, hoisin sauce, plum cake and fig notes, backed by a long, broad, muscular, but supple-textured finish. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2011. 250 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (3/31/2010)

Luca 2008 Pinot Noir, Mendoza
Rating: 89

Palish medium-red. High-toned aromas of candied raspberry, strawberry, smoky earth and orange peel. Sweet raspberry and strawberry flavors are supported by a firm core of acidity. Bright and silky red fruit-driven pinot with a light touch. Finishes with elegant tannins. Not the last word in definition but certainly one of the best pinots I've tasted to date from Mendoza

- International Wine Cellar (1/30/2010)

Luca 2008 'Laborde Double Select' Syrah
Rating: 90

Full ruby. Blackberry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose, with hints of fresh herbs. Sweet, suave and more pliant than the maiden 2007 offering, but with plenty of energy to the dark fruit and peppery spice flavors. Very good vinosity here-and a lot of Syrah for the price.

- International Wine Cellar (1/30/2010)

Luca 2008 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 91

Densely packed with fig sauce, blueberry and blackberry fruit, all wound together by dark cocoa, black licorice and fruitcake notes. The long, fleshy finish has impressive depth, with lingering mint and dark coffee notes. Drink now through 2011.

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2009)

Luca 2006 Nico (Malbec), Mendoza
Rating: 93

Offers broad, fleshy layers of boysenberry and blackberry fruit, with fig sauce, Turkish coffee and melted licorice.

- The Wine Spectator (12/15/2009)

Luca 2006 Nico (Malbec), Mendoza
Rating: 93

Very ripe, with broad, fleshy layers of boysenberry and blackberry fruit, fig sauce, Turkish coffee and melted licorice. There's lots of spice and fruitcake notes on the rich finish, which sails on gracefully despite its weight. This has a gorgeous mouthfeel for such a dense wine. Drink now through 2011. 100 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2009)

Luca 2007 'Laborde Double Select' Syrah
Rating: 91

Wild and brawny, with pepper, tobacco and crushed olive notes leading the way for bacony toast, braised beef and roasted plum flavors. The long, muscular finish has good flesh and drive. A rare sauvage-styled Syrah from Argentina. Drink now through 2011. 1,000 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (7/31/2009)

Luca 2006 Nico (Malbec), Mendoza
Rating: 94

Laura Catena’s flagship is the 2006 Nico by Luca. It was sourced from Malbec vines averaging 49 years of age in Altamira and La Consulta and aged for 18 months in new French barriques. Saturated purple/black in color, it exhibits a superb nose of toasty oak, Asian spices, incense, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry. Full-bodied, dense, and powerful, it managed to remain light on its feet. Smooth textured, succulent, and long, this is a pleasure-bent effort that will satisfy hedonists from 2013 to 2026. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Argentina pioneer Nicolas Catena. The Chardonnay, since its inception, has always over-delivered, offering competition to the likes of Kistler, Peter Michael, and Aubert at less than half the price.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Luca 2008 Chardonnay, Mendoza
Rating: 93

The 2008 Chardonnay spent 12 months in 30% new French oak-aged sur lies before bottling without filtration. It has an alluring bouquet of toasty oak, baking spices, mineral, and tropical notes. This leads to a creamy textured, round, spicy Chardonnay with tons of flavor, excellent concentration, impeccable balance, and a length, pure finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Argentina pioneer Nicolas Catena. The Chardonnay, since its inception, has always over-delivered, offering competition to the likes of Kistler, Peter Michael, and Aubert at less than half the price.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Luca 2008 Malbec, Mendoza
Rating: 93

The 2008 Malbec spent 12 months in 60% new French oak. It is a glass-staining opaque purple color with an enthralling perfume of sandalwood, Asian spices, lavender, black cherry, and plum. On the palate this concentrated effort admirably combines power and elegance. Smooth-textured, spicy, and rich, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2011 to 2023. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Argentina pioneer Nicolas Catena. The Chardonnay, since its inception, has always over-delivered, offering competition to the likes of Kistler, Peter Michael, and Aubert at less than half the price.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Luca 2008 Pinot Noir, Mendoza
Rating: 92

The fruit for the 2008 Pinot Noir was sourced from a 15-acre parcel from the Adriana Vineyard made famous by Catena Zapata and aged in 30% new French oak. It displays lovely aromatics of raspberry and cherry, plenty of body, sweet, succulent flavors, a silky texture, and outstanding depth. It should drink well for another 8 years. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Argentina pioneer Nicolas Catena. The Chardonnay, since its inception, has always over-delivered, offering competition to the likes of Kistler, Peter Michael, and Aubert at less than half the price.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Luca 2007 'Beso de Dante'(Bordeaux Blend)
Rating: 92

The 2007 Beso de Dante is a blend of 55% Malbec and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in 70% new French oak before bottling without fining or filtration. It emits an alluring bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, violets, black currant, and black cherry. Dense, spicy, and concentrated on the palate, this full-bodied effort has layers of savory fruit, enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, and a lengthy finish. Drink it from 2011 to 2022. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Argentina pioneer Nicolas Catena. The Chardonnay, since its inception, has always over-delivered, offering competition to the likes of Kistler, Peter Michael, and Aubert at less than half the price.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Luca 2006 'Laborde Double Select' Syrah
Rating: 91

Wild and brawny, with pepper, tobacco and crushed olive notes leading the way for bacony toast, braised beef and roasted plum flavors. The long, muscular finish has good flesh and drive. A rare sauvage-styled Syrah from Argentina. Drink now through 2011.

- The Wine Spectator (7/31/2009)

Luca 2005 Nico (Malbec)
Rating: 94

Dense purple-colored, it offers a splendid nose of pain grille, mineral, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent wine with gobs of savory fruit, outstanding balance, and serious aging potential. Give it 4-6 years in the cellar and drink it from 2012 to 2030. There are only 400 3-packs of this phenomenal effort.

- The Wine Advocate (11/1/2008)

Luca 2005 Nico (Malbec)
Rating: 94

Exotic, with intensely concentrated but remarkably creamy fig, raspberry, boysenberry and currant fruit, seamlessly stitched with mocha and fruitcake notes. A nice bittersweet ganache twinge and a racy graphite underpinning on the finish helps keep it all honest. Very impressive

- The Wine Spectator (11/1/2008)

Luca 2007 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

The Chardonnay has arguably been one of the 3-4 best produced in Argentina for a number of years and the 2007 Chardonnay is no exception. It was 100% barrel-fermented, went through full malolactic fermentation, and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak on its lees. Light gold-colored, it has an outstanding bouquet of spiced apple and poached pear, with tropical fruits in the background. Medium to full-bodied, mineral and oak notes emerge on the palate accompanied by lively acidity, layered flavors, and excellent balance. Drink this classy Chardonnay over the next 3-4 years. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Nicolas Catena, the founder of Catena-Zapata.

- The Wine Advocate (12/15/2008)

Luca 2006 'Laborde Double Select' Syrah
Rating: 93

The 2006 Laborde Double Select is a 100% Syrah cuvee sourced from the 45-year-old Laborde Vineyard. It was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Purple in color, it has a superb perfume of wood smoke, toasty blueberries, spice box and earth notes. Hermitage-like, it is elegantly-styled, layered and ripe. There is enough structure for another 2-3 years of bottle age and it should be at its best from 2011 to 2020.

- The Wine Advocate (12/30/2008)

Luca 2007 Malbec
Rating: 92

The purple/black 2007 malbec was sourced from a 43-year-old ungrafted vineyard and aged for 12 months in 80% French oak before bottling without, fining or filtration. It reveals an alluring nose of smoke, cedar, spice box, black cherry, and rose petal. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine is well-balanced, layered and intense. There is enough silky tannin to support 2-3 years additional bottle age. Drink this tasty malbec from 2010 to 2018.

- The Wine Advocate (12/30/2008)

Luca 2007 Pinot Noir, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

The medium-colored 2007 Pinot Noir sourced from a relatively young vineyard planted to Dijon clones. It was aged in 30% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. It offers up an alluring bouquet of wild strawberry, raspberry, saddle leather, spice box and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, with intense, savory, spicy, red fruit flavors, this lengthy, complex effort will evolve for several years and be at its best form 2010 to 2018. It is a candidate for best Argentina Pinot Noir of the year!

- The Wine Advocate (12/30/2008)

Luca 2007 Malbec
Rating: Top 100 of 2

- The Wine Spectator (11/12/2008)

Luca 2006 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 90

- The Wine Spectator (12/1/2008)

Luca (1.5 LTR) 2006 Malbec, Altos de Mendoza (wooden box)
Rating: 92

- The Wine Spectator (12/1/2008)

Luca 2006 'Laborde Double Select' Syrah
Rating: 91

A rich, toasty, ambitious style, with lots of flashy mocha, blueberry compote, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. Lushly textured, with a long, creamy finish that lets the exotic fruit echo.

- The Wine Spectator (12/30/2008)

Luca 2005 Malbec, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 94

Exotic, with intensely concentrated by remarkably creamy fig, raspberry, boysenberry and currant fruit, seamlessly stitched with mocha and fruitcake notes. Nice bittersweet ganache twinge and a racy graphite underpinning on the finish helps keep it all honest. Very impressive.

- The Wine Spectator (09/03/2008)

Luca 2007 Malbec
Rating: 93

Really goes for the gusto and pulls it off, with dark fig sauce, melted purple licorice, mocha, fruitcake and crushed boysenberry and blueberry fruit all gliding along rich, velvety tannins. Long mouthfilling finish.

- The Wine Spectator (12/30/2008)

Luca 2006 Malbec, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

"Heady, with raspberry and currant confiture aromas followed by a dense palate of warm fig sauce, crushed boysenberry, bramble, bittersweet ganache and Christmas pudding notes. Long and powerful finish."

- The Wine Spectator (4/16/2008)

Luca 2006 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 90

Pale yellow-gold. Exotic, high-toned fruit bomb of a nose, offering apricot, peach and lively limey lift. Then supple and almost surprisingly subdued in the mouth, with firmly structured flavors of pineapple, apricot and light vanillin oak. Sound acidity and firm underlying minerality give this a level of sophistication rare for chardonnay in Argentina. Not at all a thick style, and long and subtle on the aftertaste. Reportedly from a low crop level in a high-elevation vineyard that enjoys long hang time. Entirely barrel-fermented, with 50% new oak used. One of the few outstanding Argentine chardonnays not bottled under the Catena label-but then this is the project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

Luca 2006 Malbec, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

Good bright, full ruby. Pure aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate; an essence of this variety. Juicy, bright and densely packed, with a powerful core of primary crushed black fruit flavor. Superconcentrated but quite suave. The very long finish features broad tannins. I'd give this a couple more years in the bottle.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

Luca 2005 'Beso de Dante' (Bordeaux Blend), Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 91

75% malbec and 25% cabernet sauvignon) Bright, full ruby. Sexy, smoky aromas of currant, licorice, pepper, tobacco leaf and sweet herbs; showing its cabernet side today. Then suave, ripe, pliant and round, with classically dry flavors of currant, spice and pepper. Finishes with sweet tannins and lovely persistence. Here the cabernet dominates the wine's aromas and flavors, while the malbec gives a mouthfilling texture. A very successful blend.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

Luca 2004 Nico
Rating: 94

100% malbec; just four barrels of the best old-vines material) Saturated deep ruby to the rim. Primary but already expressive nose offers black raspberry, blackberry, violet, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Creamy-sweet, concentrated and improbably deep, with an almost liqueur-like richness leavened by inner-mouth verve and violety perfume. This is wonderfully sophisticated wine with a texture of velvet. Builds impressively on the back end, with the ripe tannins buried under an explosion of fruit. As impressive as this is already, it still needs time to evolve and expand.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

Luca 2005 Syrah, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 88

Musky, reduced aromas of blackberry and smoked meat. Sweet, lush and pliant, with fruit-driven flavors of red and dark berries and chocolate. Not yet particularly complex-and still a bit reduced-but the wine's sweet tannins and late suggestions of black raspberry, chocolate and leather suggest that a couple years in bottle will bring more pronounced syrah character.

- International Wine Cellar (2/1/2008)

Luca 2006 Malbec, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 93

- The Wine Advocate (4/16/2008)

Luca 2006 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

Luca Chardonnay is annually a candidate for Argentina’s finest Chardonnay, the primary competitor being Catena Zapata. The 2006 Chardonnay was aged for 12 months in French oak, 50% new. It is light gold in color with a superb aromatic display of spicy oak, mineral, butterscotch, poached pear, and tropical fruits. Medium to full-bodied, it is smoothly textured with outstanding depth and concentration and a lengthy finish. It blows away most white Burgundies and California Chardonnays at twice the price. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura’s oldest son

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

Luca 2006 Malbec
Rating: 93

The 2006 Malbec has no such problems. It was aged for 12 months in 60% new French oak. Opaque purple, it has a splendid bouquet of smoke, toast, pencil lead, pepper, black cherry, and blackberry. Opulent and fruit forward on the palate, there are plenty of silky tannins lurking under the baby fat. Balanced, concentrated, ripe, and thoroughly hedonistic, this classy Malbec will evolve for 5-7 years and provide pleasure through 2030. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura’s oldest son.

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

Luca 2006 Pinot Noir, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 93

There is not much quality Pinot Noir coming out of Argentina at this point but Laura Catena has managed to turn the trick with the 2006 Luca Pinot Noir. The fruit was sourced from a vineyard at 4700 feet of elevation and aged for 12 months in French oak, 60% new. Dark ruby in color, it offers a superb perfume of smoke, cedar, mineral, violets, and black raspberry. Velvety-textured, sweet, and concentrated, it is a stunning example of Argentina’s potential with Pinot Noir. I cannot think of another Pinot this good at this price point making it an awesome value. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura’s oldest son.

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

Luca 2005 'Beso de Dante' (Bordeaux Blend), Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 89

The 2005 Beso de Dante is named in honor of Laura Catena’s son. It is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec aged in 30% new French oak. Purple colored, it has an expressive perfume of pain grille, cassis, mineral, and black currant. On the palate it comes off as compact and short in the finish. Having recently tasted the outstanding 2003, it may be that I caught this wine at an awkward moment. This wine needs to be retasted. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura’s oldest son.

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

Luca 2005 Syrah, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 87

I may have caught this wine at an awkward moment but the 2005 Syrah was surprisingly narrow on the palate and disjointed. This wine needs to be retasted. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura’s oldest son.

- The Wine Advocate (12/21/2007)

Luca 2005 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 90

Bold and ripe, with alluring fig, pear tartine, grilled hazelnut and buttered brioche notes that glide through the long, lush finish. Has weight and flair, with fresh acidity for balance. -J.M.

- The Wine Spectator (8/31/2008)

Luca 2004 Syrah, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 90

Dark, powerful syrah from extremely high altitude vineyards; excellent balance and works with foods beyond red meats quite well; lush, clean finish; good acids help the follow-through.

- Beverage Dynamics (1/15/2007)

Luca 2002 'Beso de Dante' (Bordeaux Blend), Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 92

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2006)

Luca 2004 Chardonnay, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 88

- The Wine Spectator (8/30/2006)

Luca 2004 Syrah, Altos de Mendoza
Rating: 91

Alluring, modern style, with lots of exotic fig, plum and blackberry fruit flavors gliding along mocha and spice infused toast. Creamy finish.

- The Wine Spectator (6/30/2006)