Deep purple color; black raspberry, blackberry, plum, dark cherry, blueberry, rhubarb, bell pepper, chocolate, spice, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry; medium-plus tannins with appropriate balancing acidity (3.7 pH). Plenty of dark fruits and particularly pleasing play in the mid-palate. Medium-plus body. 100% certified organic cab franc from estate vineyards in Tupungato, Alto Gualtallary in the Andean foothills. The site delivers impressive diurnal fluctuations, a hallmark of quality wines where daytime sunlight—intense at 4,000 feet—drives fruity ripeness and nighttime lows engender balancing acidity. Manual harvest. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel for 12 days, followed by 14 days of maceration. Aged eight-to-ten months in French oak. 14.5% ABV
Gaia is named for the Earth Mother goddess in Greek mythology. Founded in 1997, the Gaia brand by Domaine Bousquet creates non-classic wines using French winemaking styles. The Bousquet family has four generations of winemaking experience. They arrived in Mendoza, Argentina, from France in 1990 and fell in love with the possibilities. They purchased land in the foothills of the Andes in 1997 in the Tupungato Valley, elevation 4,000 feet, one of the higher altitude vineyards in Argentina and the world. The climate is very dry, allowing Domaine Bousquet to have excellent water control through drip irrigation using meltwater from nearby Andes Mountains.
The winery is one of the world’s most awarded fully organic operations. As their website states: “We are dedicated to farming organically while improving our land’s biodiversity. We believe that the healthier the vineyard, the better the fruit and of course the wine. In other words, by nourishing the land and treating it with respect, we know that the land will give us back its finest fruits.” And: “Organic crops are grown in harmony with nature without using any chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Organic agriculture uses natural fertilizers such as compost.”
The Bronco Wine Company is the U.S. distributor. Bronco is a major U.S. wine maker—best known for “Two Buck Chuck”—but they also represent more serious brands, such as this one, and have a long history of distributing imported wines in the U.S. The big advantage for Domaine Bousquet is Bronco’s very robust distribution capabilities in the U.S.
Domaine Bousquet Gaia Cabernet Franc, Gualtallary, Argentina 2020—fresh, well-made effort from the leading organic winemaker in Argentina. Plenty of rich dark fruits with some depth and complexity. Easy to drink, will work well with a variety of meats. Good QPR (quality-price ratio). Pair with hearty red meats, ribeye steak with blue cheese; roasted pork, pork tenderloin, grilled sausage; pasta with tomato sauces; beef lasagne; stuffed bell pepper; herb-crusted rack of lamb; chicken with herby crème fraîche; vegetarian fare—grilled asparagus, roasted spring vegetables. Cheese—feta, gorgonzola, goat cheese, chèvre, boursin, camambert, fontina. $17-20
