Deep ruby color; cherry, red, plum fruits on the nose; cherry, plum, black currant, blueberry, spice and minerality on the palate.
Dry; medium body; sweet elements thanks to ripe fruit; racy acidity for a cab (3.6 pH), medium tannin, reserved oak. Struggles some to find its identity in the initial attack, then settles into niche as middle-shelf pour at nice price point. Certainly would work as the second bottle after a more distinctive effort. Made with 100% cabernet sauvignon organically grown grapes in Tupungato (Uco Valley), Mendoza, Argentina (earlier vintages included a dash of malbec).
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.”
Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a soft, easy going, easy drinking cab. No big red wine challenges here; reserved tannins that hit some drying notes on the finish. Pair with grilled red meats, pizza, pasta dishes made with tomatoes, pork, lamb. $11-12
