Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Reserve Organic Chardonnay

2023 Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay ($18)

Family-owned Domaine Bousquet has stood for a 100% commitment to eco-friendly, certified organic, competitively priced wines from the get-go. “Certified” is definitely the operative word at Domaine Bousquet, which is currently at 14 different certifications and counting.

Domaine Bousquet’s Reserve organic wines are defined by:

  • The grapes are 100% estate-grown, a step up from the winery’s classic varietal line

  • The fruit is from plots with low yields that offer more of everything – more body, more flavor

  • The Chardonnay is subject to careful blending at the winery, with 50% seeing some oak and 50% fermented and aged in tanks

  • Freshness, aromatics, and fruit-forward qualities

This Domaine Bousquet Reserve Organic Chardonnay is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown at the foot of the Andes at 4000 feet altitude. The grapes were hand harvested. Fifty of the wine was fermented in oak for 15 days. It was then aged for six months in 3rd, 4th and 5th use French oak barrels, on lees. (ABV: 14%, Total Acidity: 5.43 g/L, pH: 3.34, Residual Sugar: 1.91 g/L)

The wine is medium gold in color with delicate tropical aromas, baked apple and citrus. On the palate, this Chardonnay is medium-bodied with rich flavors of baked apple. It has medium acidity and finishes smooth, soft and balanced. A delicious Chardonnay.

This Domaine Bousquet Reserve Organic Chardonnay is really nice with deliciously rich flavors. And, at this price is a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Organic Rosé

2023 Domaine Bousquet Organic Rosé ($13)

Domaine Bousquet´s Organic varietal series comprises a blend of estate and purchased organic fruit from the Uco Valley in the high Andean foothills of Argentina.

The grapes benefit from huge day/night temperature swings, achieving ripeness while retaining the juiciness. The wines are produced with a French sensibility and un-oaked to let the fruit shine through.

The grapes, sourced from the Uco Valley, are harvested early in the morning to preserve the freshness of the fruit. They are then fermented in stainless steel with selected yeasts at a maximum temperature of 26°C/78.8°F for 10 days.

This rosé is produced from organic grapes consisting of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Syrah, 10% Pinto Grigio and 10% Viognier. It is pale salmon in color, with delicate red fruit and floral aromas. On the palate it has flavors of soft red fruits that are enhanced by the Syrah, some citrus as well as sweet fruit flavors without being a sweet wine. This rosé has nice acidity and finishes soft. [ABV: 12.5%, RS: 1.27 g/L, pH: 3.28, Acidity: 5.62 g/L]

This Domaine Bousquet Organic Rosé is a delightful sipper on a hot summer day, and a great value too! That makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - LO CA Organic Wines

LO-CA organic Chardonnay and Malbec, from Domaine Bousquet in Uco Valley Argentina, are feel-good, taste-good wines with more altitude, attitude, and fewer calories.

The name, LO-CA, is a play on “low-calorie,” but Loca also means “crazy” in Spanish. So, these LO-CA wines are low-calorie, low-alcohol, low-sugar, vegan, gluten-free, USDA-certified organic, Regenerative Organic Certified™, and Eco cert-approved – how crazy is that!

2023 Domaine Bousquet LO-CA Organic Chardonnay ($14)

This LO-CA wine is produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes that were harvested about two months earlier than for standard bottlings. It was then fermented in stainless steel tanks for 12-17 days. Bottling followed shortly after to ensure peak freshness.

It is medium gold in color with medium aromas of tropical fruit. On the palate it has flavors of green apple and lime with crisp acidity. Alcohol: 9.5% Acidity: 7.72 gm/L, pH: 3.21, Residual Sugar: 1.21 gm/L, Calories:75 per 5 oz serving

2023 Domaine Bousquet LO-CA Organic Malbec ($14)

This LO-CA wine is produced from 100% Malbec. The grapes were harvested about two months earlier than for standard bottlings. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks for 12-17 days. Bottling followed shortly after to ensure peak freshness.

It is medium ruby in color with aromas of red fruits. On the palate, this Malbec has bright red fruit flavors including cranberry. It has medium tannin and acidity and finishes bright with some tartness. Alcohol: 9.5% Acidity: 5.62 gm/L, pH: 3.62, Residual Sugar: 1.21 gm/L, Calories:79 per 5 oz serving

These LO-CA wines from Domaine Bousquet are easy to drink, light and refreshing wines that can be enjoyed at any time. And, at the price, they fit right in as the Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week! Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Signature Organic Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Signature Organic Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

Like its namesake, Cameleon is the embodiment of adaptation to the environment. The label symbolizes the story of the Bousquet family, a fourth-generation family that left their native France after a long worldwide search for an idyllic wine growing region. Their search came to a natural conclusion in Tupungato where the Bousquet family tailored their extensive winemaking knowledge to the carefully chosen land. The European grapes such as Chardonnay, also adapted to the characteristics of the fertile Argentinean soil, creating the distinctive wine the family had sought.

This Cameleon Signature Organic Cabernet Sauvignon was produced form 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec. They were hand harvested from organic vineyards and underwent cold maceration for 48 hours. It was then fermented with selected yeast for 10 days followed by 10 days of additional maceration. It underwent 100% malolactic conversion and was aged in contact with French oak for 6 to 8 months.

This wine is deep purple in color. On the nose it has medium-intensity notes of black fruit with herbal notes, some spiciness and a bit of dried tobacco. On the palate, this is a full-bodied Cab with flavors of black berry, black cherry and a hint of blueberry. This young Cab has bold tannin right out of bottle that settles down nicely after 1+ hours of decanting. It finishes smooth with just a bit of tartness. [ABV: 14.5%, Acidity: 5.55 gm/L, pH:3.67, Residual Sugar: 2.36 g/L]

This Cameleon Signature Organic Cabernet Sauvignon from Domaine Bousquet is big and bold and pairs well with grilled beef. And, at this great price, it’s this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Signature Organic Chardonnay

2022 Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Signature Organic Chardonnay ($15)

Like its namesake, Cameleon is the embodiment of adaptation to the environment. The label symbolizes the story of the Bousquet family, a fourth-generation family that left their native France after a long worldwide search for an idyllic wine growing region. Their search came to a natural conclusion in Tupungato where the Bousquet family tailored their extensive winemaking knowledge to the carefully chosen land. The European grapes such as Chardonnay, also adapted to the characteristics of the fertile Argentinean soil, creating the distinctive wine the family had sought.

This Cameleon Signature Organic Chardonnay is produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in vineyards in the Uco Valley at the foot of the Andes at 4000 feet. It spent six months in contact with French oak. It is pale gold in color with delicate aromas of apple and crème brûlée. On the palate, this medium-light bodied Chardonnay has flavors of yellow apple, baked pear and pineapple. It finishes bright with a hint of tartness.

This Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Signature Organic Chardonnay is unique in that its fruit flavors and mouthfeel are somewhere between an un-oaked and a lightly-oaked Chardonnay. Perfect for the coming warm weather months. For these reasons, and its great price, Cameleon is featured as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet