Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Virgen Red Wines

Domaine Bousquet Virgen Red Wines

Virgen wines are the first Argentine no-sulfites-added USDA-organic-certified wines to launch in the U.S., from Uco Valley-based Domaine Bousquet, Argentina’s largest exporter of organically grown wines.

Named for the virgin land where the Bousquet’s built Domaine Bousquet, this wine is a nod to the continued commitment by the winery to protect and preserve.

Some may associate the natural, no-sulfites-added wine movement with small-production, impossible-to-find, cloudy, funky and inconsistent wines. But not so with this Virgen wine. It is balanced, fresh and approachable: vegan, no oak, and great value for the price!

“We only tackled this project once we were confident that we could manage the challenges of making top-notch organic, no-sulfites-added wines. We also wanted to make sure that these wines remained true to our house style: elegant, with bright, clean, fruit flavors.” – Domaine Bousquet co-owner Anne Bousquet

Virgen Natural Malbec ($13) - This wine is produced from 100% Malbec that is fermented with 50% indigenous yeasts and 50% selected yeasts for 10 days in stainless steel. It is medium purple in color with red-fruit aromas and a hint of herbs. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has fresh tasting fruit flavors of red plum on the front-end and blackberry on the back. It has very light tannin, good acidity and a nice finish.

Virgen Natural Cabernet Sauvignon ($13) - This wine is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that is fermented with 50% indigenous yeasts and 50% selected yeasts for 10 days in stainless steel. It is deep ruby in color with aromas of black cherry and green peppercorn. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has fresh berry fruit flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and black cherry. It has medium tannin, nice acidity and a medium-long finish.

These wines are both USDA Organic, Vegan friendly, gluten free and have no sulfites added. And, a super value! This makes them a great fit as this week’s 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.

Samples Provided by Domaine Bousquet Winery via Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso

Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso ($35)

Amy Ezrin, the founder of Sandy Giovese wine was training to be an opera singer and ended up living in Italy for 8 years. She states she “…was an ‘okay’ singer, but I was really good at speaking Italian and tasting wine, so I became a wine importer. I often joked that my alter ego was Sandy Giovese, a play on the name of one of Italy’s greatest red grapes, Sangiovese.”

This Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso is…

  • Moderation Friendly - Want just a glass? No need to open a bottle. The box is fresh for 1 month or more

  • Better for the Planet - Bag-in-box is the lowest environmental impact. Just one-tenth the carbon footprint of one 750 ml glass bottle

  • Organically Farmed - Made from 100% organically-farmed grapes

  • Budget Friendly - 1 box = 4 bottles of wine. That’s the equivalent of just $8.75 per bottle. Comparable wines cost at least twice that in glass bottles!

This Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso is a blend of 85% Sangiovese (the classic grape used to produce Chianti wines) and 15% Trebbiano (a native Italian white wine grape that adds refreshing acidity). It is medium ruby in color with aromas of red fruit and herbal notes. On the palate it has the classic Sangiovese flavor of red cherries. It’s medium bodied with good acidity and finishes light and refreshing.

I said it before and I’ll say it again…If you are on the fence with respect to box wine, here’s your reason to hop off and pick one up! This makes the Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

ABV: 12.35%, RS: 2.80 g/L, Total Acidity: 5.2 g/L, pH: 3.47

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

Sample Provided by Sandy Giovese Wines via Savona Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Domaine Bousquet Virgen Chardonnay

2022 Domaine Bousquet Virgen Chardonnay ($13)

Virgen wines are the first Argentine no-sulfites-added USDA-organic-certified wines to launch in the U.S., from Uco Valley-based Domaine Bousquet, Argentina’s largest exporter of organically grown wines.

Named for the virgin land where the Bousquet’s built Domaine Bousquet, this wine is a nod to the continued commitment by the winery to protect and preserve.

Some may associate the natural, no-sulfites-added wine movement with small-production, impossible-to-find, cloudy, funky and inconsistent wines. But not so with this Virgen wine. It is balanced, fresh and approachable: vegan, no oak, and great value for the price!

“We only tackled this project once we were confident that we could manage the challenges of making top-notch organic, no-sulfites-added wines. We also wanted to make sure that these wines remained true to our house style: elegant, with bright, clean, fruit flavors.” – Domaine Bousquet co-owner Anne Bousquet

This Virgen Natural 100% Chardonnay is a beautiful deep gold color with aromas of yellow apple, apricot and pineapple. On the palate this wine has rich apple flavor and some notable minerality. For a wine that is produced in stainless steel, it has a surprising richness and moderate acidity that leads to a soft finish.

This is a very serious Chardonnay that also happens to be USDA Organic, Vegan friendly, gluten free and has no sulfites added. This makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

ABV: 13.5%, RS: 1.56 gm/L, pH: 3.28, Acidity: 5.77 gm/L

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

Sample Provided by Domaine Bousquet Winery via Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato

Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato ($35)

Launched in 2021, Sandy Giovese wines are the creation of Amy Ezrin, accomplished entrepreneur, Italian wine expert and importer.

The brand name is a playful reference to her alter ego, Sandy Giovese, referring to the famous Italian grape Sangiovese which this wine is based on. Rosie Giovese is the ‘sister’ of Sandy Giovese.

Sandy Giovese’s commitment to raising awareness around environmental sustainability and the empowerment of women and girls is represented by the strong personality of their central character.

They have been practicing sustainable farming since 2016 when they converted their vineyards to organic farming, supported by a fully solar-powered wine cellar.

This wonderful Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato is a blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Trebbiano. It is produced in stainless-steel tanks to preserve its freshness with a seven-day maceration period for the Sangiovese and just four-hours of maceration for the Trebbiano.

This Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato is a beautiful salmon colored wine. On the nose it has strawberry and notes of candied cherry. On the palate it has delicate red-fruit flavors, refreshing acidity and a crisp finish.

This is not only a really good rosé wine, it’s also a tremendous value since one box is equivalent to four bottles of wine.

ABV: 12.7%, Residual Sugar: <2.0 g/l, pH: 3.43, Total Acidity: 5.5 g/l

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

Sample Provided by Sandy Giovese Wines via Savona Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

2020 Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo ($15)

This Montepulciano wine from Masciarelli (Mass-shee-ah-RELL-ee) winery exemplifies the style, quality, and value associated with wines from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Masciarelli produced their first vintage in 1981, and to this date, all of their wines remain estate grown.

This wine is made from 100% Montepulciano grapes sourced from vineyards planted in calcareous clay soils. The cooling effect of clay helps preserve this wine’s bright acidity. 

Designed to be enjoyed within a few years of release, these wines see no oak during the winemaking process, allowing their youthful freshness to shine.

This Masciarelli wine is produced from 100% Montepulciano D’Abruzzo grapes that were fermented and aged in stainless steel. It is deep ruby in color with nice aromas of black fruit and thyme. On the palate, this dry, full-bodied wine is big in flavor with rich blackberry fruit flavor, touches of spice and bold tannin. (Note: This wine was decanted for 1+ hours before serving)

This is a delightful Montepulciano D’Abruzzo from Masciarelli. It’s also quite affordable. This big Italian wine certainly deserves being called 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.

Sample Provided by Masciarelli Winery via Creative Palate Communications