Deep ruby-purple color; black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, blueberry, raspberry, oak, sweet tobacco, smoke, graphite-minerality, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry; sweet, smooth tannins; vibrant acidity (3.67 pH/5.25 g/L TA). Full body; seductive texture in the mouth. Impressively long finish. Organically-grown grapes hand-selected and harvested. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel for two weeks, followed by 20 days of maceration in oak barrels; 100% malolactic conversion. Aged in French oak, 80% new, for one year. 14.5% ABV
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.”
The Bronco Wine Company is the U.S. distributor. Bronco is a major U.S. wine maker—best known for “Two Buck Chuck”—but they also represent more serious brands, such as this one, and have a long history of distributing imported wines in the U.S. The big advantage for Domaine Bousquet is Bronco’s robust distribution capabilities in the U.S. You should be able to find this wine at your wine store, and certainly online.
Domaine Bousquet Ameri Malbec, Gualtallary Single Vineyard 2020 is outstanding organically grown, high-altitude malbec, a flagship wine from a leading Argentine producer. Impressive expression of Gualtallary terroir with its distinctive graphite-minerality. Nicely evolves in the glass to present depth and complexity. Very impressive finish. Good value-for-price. $34-37
Pairing—red meat, of course; grilled beef ribs, grilled beef in general; pepper-crusted filet mignon. Lamb—slow cooked lamb ragout; lamb with rosemary, sage, thyme. Pork, both lean and fatty cuts; roasted pork shoulder, pork belly, bacon; barbecue pork; avoid overly sweet sauces. Mushroom-based dishes; grilled portobello, wild mushroom risotto, stuffed mushrooms. Cheese—blue cheeses, gorgonzola, Cashel Blue. Semi-hard cheese; aged cheddar, gouda, asiago, colby; manchego, aged pecorino.
