Behind the Cork™ - 2022 Ameri “Wild Roots” Malbec by Domaine Bousquet

2022 Ameri “Wild Roots” Malbec ($85)

Domaine Bousquet is Argentina’s largest producer and exporter of wines made from 100% certified organic fruit. The Ameri label of wines is named for co-owner Labid Al Ameri, Domaine Bousquet’s co-owner.

Ameri wines are only made in exceptional years and exclusively from selected grape clusters harvested from the estates’ best vineyard.

This “Wild Roots” Malbec is a limited, single-block wine from Eva Estate’s Block 3, of stony calcareous soils and deep-rooted vines.

The Malbec grapes used to produce Ameri were harvested by hand, with careful selection of clusters and berries. Fermented occurred with native yeasts in 400-liter oak barrels, followed by a total maceration of 30 days. The wine the aged 12 months in French oak and refined for one additional year in the bottle.

Ameri ‘Wild Roots” Malbec is deep purple in color with dark fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied Malbec has deep, rich dark fruit flavors and soft tannins. It’s well balanced, complex and finishes smooth and soft. (ABV: 14.5)

Domaine Bousquet’s Ameri Wild Roots Block 03 Malbec is an outstanding wine! A perfect 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™ - 2024 Ameri “Eva Estate” Sauvignon Blanc by Domaine Bousquet

2024 Ameri “Eva Estate” Sauvignon Blanc ($35)

Domaine Bousquet, Argentina’s largest producer and exporter of wines made from 100% certified organic fruit, is introducing their 2024 single-vineyard Ameri Sauvignon Blanc, the first white wine from the winery’s Ameri label. Named for co-owner Labid Al Ameri, Domaine Bousquet’s “Ameri” wines are only made in exceptional years and exclusively from selected grape clusters harvested from the estates’ best vineyard.

The grapes used to produce Ameri Sauvignon Blanc were sourced from the heart of Plot No. 9 of their Eva Estate vineyard in Gualtallary Argentina at an elevation of 4124 ft (1,257 m), a high-altitude wine region in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. The sandy-calcareous soils have been found to be the most expressive sections of the vineyard.

The grapes were hand-harvested early in the morning to preserve their freshness. The grapes were then gently pressed under reductive conditions (i.e., minimal exposure to oxygen) with dry ice to protect the aromatic profile. The wine fermented in French oak barrels (50% new, 50% second use) at low temperatures (13 °C / 55 °F), with no malolactic conversion. The wine was then aged for 8 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle.

This Ameri Sauvignon Blanc is pale gold in color with nice tropic fruit aromas, some baked pear and a touch of vanilla from the oak aging. On the palate, this light-bodied wine has wonderful tropical fruit flavors of pineapple along with green apple and pear. It is light and bright but finishes smooth with just a bit creaminess.

This Domaine Bousquet 2024 Ameri “Eva Estate” Sauvignon Blanc is a real treat at this price, making 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™ - Serial XXVI Red Blend

2021 Serial XXVI Red Blend ($35)

Serial Wines is a part of the John Anthony Wine & Spirits portfolio, including John Anthony Vineyards, Serial Wines, Weather, and JaM Cellars.

After decades of grape growing and winemaking in Napa Valley—first on his family’s estate and then under his own label, John Anthony was introduced to the wine growing community in Paso Robles by their current winemaker, Jeff Kandarian - a multi-award-winning winemaker.

This Serial XXVI Red Blend from Paso Robles is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petite Sirah, 3.5% Tempranillo, 1.5% Syrah and 1.5% Grenache. It was aged in 25% new French oak and 24% new American oak.

Serial XXVI is a medium ruby red in color with nice red and black fruit aromas. On the palate, this medium-full-bodied wine has red and black fruit flavors with medium tannin and medium-high acidity. It’s got jammy fruit flavors with a touch of sweetness on the finish.

This Serial XXVI Red Blend is very easy-drinking with lots of fruit-forward flavors. It’s a nice fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Union Sacre Wines Gewurztramminer

Union Sacré Wines Gewürztramminer ($19.99)

For winemaker Xavier Arnaudin, winemaking has always been about people. He was born and raised in France and started his career not in the cellar, but in the kitchen, studying to be a chef. In 1999 he left the Rhône Valley and headed to California where he met Phillip Muzzy. They dreamed of making wine and in 2014 produced their first vintage as Union Sacré Wines co-owners.

This 2021 Union Sacré Gewürztraminer is an "orange" wine from California's Arroyo Seco appellation. It’s called an “orange” wine because the grape skins spend an extended time in contact with the juice, producing its deep golden color. In this case, the 100% Gewürztraminer grape skins were fermented with 40 days of skin contact.

This wine is a golden color with green highlights. On the nose, it has aroma of grapefruit, orange zest, honeysuckle, with hints of spice. On the palate it has soft flavors of lychee, tangerine and tropical fruit along with a hint of spice on the soft, smooth finish. The acidity is well balanced. [ABV: 12.1%]

If you have any hesitations about Gewürztraminer, this is a really nice one that won’t overwhelm you with sweetness or acidity; it’s soft and smooth. And, at this price, is a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Laurent Dublanc Cotes du Rhone

2024 Laurent Dublanc Côtes du Rhône ($7.99)

The Côtes du Rhône region is the largest AOC, accounting for two-thirds of Rhône's production.

Côtes du Rhône is a region-wide appellation for red, rosé and white wines covering the entire Rhône Valley. It includes more than 170 villages.

A small proportion of the appellation's wines are white, but the best known Cotes du Rhône wines are red blends based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (GSM blends) which produce bold and spicy flavors. 

This Laurent Dublanc Côtes du Rhône is a GSM blend that is deep purple in color with aromas of red fruit, plum with hints of herbs and just a bit of earthiness. On the palate, this wine is medium-bodied with moderate tannin, medium acidity with nice flavors of cherry, raspberry and stewed strawberries. It finishes soft with a bit of spiciness.

Laurent Dublanc Côtes du Rhône is a nice and easy-drinking wine at a great price. That makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!