Dark violet color with magenta-tinge on the rim; blackberry, slice of spice and blackcurrant on the nose; blackberry, plum, some chocolate, black cherry/raspberry on the palate.
Big, full-bodied—improves with some air. Medium tannin, slightly soft on acidity (3.7 pH), which contributes to its easy drinking fullness while denying it some sharpness. Fruity, tasty, some smoke, mint, and astringency on the finish.
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.”
Commendable commitment to sustaining the land and protecting the environment; the effort delivers a very nice wine as a result. Worth finding. $13-15
Domaine Bousquet winery, vineyard, with Andes Mountains in the background (the snow melt provides the water for drip irrigation).
