Embraced for their freshness, vibrant aromatics and fruit-forward qualities, wines from Tupungato Valley in Mendoza’s Uco Valley have become “must-haves” for Argentine connoisseurs. Domaine Bousquet, an early pioneer in this high-altitude sub-region of the Uco Valley of Argentina, stands out for its singular reliance on eco-friendly organic fruit. And their prices are extremely competitive!
At Domaine Bousquet, they have two paths of former rivers running through their property. These riverbeds, lined with alluvial deposits from the mountain sand seismic debris, are rockier than the plain sand areas. The characteristics of sandy soil are magnified in this rocky soil.
The Domaine Bousquet wines are:
Organic: The dry, low-humidity soil eliminates the need for pesticides and other chemicals to prevent disease, making organic farming easier. And, the dreaded phylloxera louse cannot survive in sandy soil!
Elegant: The harder the soil, the heavier and more powerful the wine. The lighter the soil, the more elegant the wine. The ability to produce elegant wines was so important from the start that Domaine Bousquet’s tagline is “Naturally Elegant Wines.”
Aromatic: Thanks to the sandy soil, the grapes thrive in an area with big differences between day/night temperatures, allowing the grapes to retain acidity and terpenes, those volatile compounds that result in wonderful aromas.
Complex: With riverbed and non-riverbed fruit available, the winemaker has more options, a bigger palate from which to blend.
All three of these wines are made from organic grapes and Vegan friendly:
2021 Domaine Bousquet Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
This grapes for this wine were harvested the first two weeks of February, underwent cold maceration for 24 hours and were fermented for 15 days.
It is medium-yellow in color with bright aromas of citrus and green apple. At 12.5% ABV, it’s light and refreshing with medium acidity and a soft finish.
2019 Domaine Bousquet Reserve Chardonnay ($18)
This wine is made from 100% Chardonnay that are grown by the foothills of the Andes at an altitude of 4000 feet. This high altitude yields cool nights that preserves the fresh fruit flavors and acidity in the grapes. This Reserve Chardonnay is fermented in oak for 15 days and then aged six months in oak and lees.
It’s deep gold in color with aromas of pear and baked apple. Although it’s fermented and aged in oak, the oak influence is restrained resulting in a medium-bodied Chardonnay with fruit flavors that are not too bright and not overly oaked - just right.
2019 Domaine Bousquet Reserve Pinot Noir ($18)
This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes that are manual harvested, undergo cold maceration for 72 hours and then fermented for 15 days. It is aged for six to eight months in French oak.
It is pale ruby in color with subtle red-fruit aromas. It has the characteristic cranberry flavor with a bit of black cherry and a round finish.
These are fine examples of affordability and attainability wines that fit right in with the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week theme. Check further details at the Domaine Bousquet website and keep an eye out for them. Cheers!
Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Samples Provided by Creative Palate Communications