Deep garnet-purple color (showing its seven years of aging); black plum, black raspberry, blueberry, dark cherry, blackberry, cranberry, pepper, spice, vanilla, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry; tannins tamed after seven years, but still provide slightly grippy backbone; good acidity (3.7 pH; 6.07 g/L TA). Bottle age has reduced the expected bell pepper/herbaceousness often found in younger cab francs. Medium-plus body. Smooth in the mouth with the rich, dark fruits and good acidity balancing the 15.4% ABV. Fruit is 100% certified organic cab franc from estate vineyard in Alto Gualtallary in the high Andean foothills—4,000 foot elevation. Manual harvest. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel for 12 days, followed by 14 days of maceration. Aged eight-to-ten months in French oak.
The Gualtallary district of the Uco Valley benefits from extreme altitude that means brilliant sunshine during the day and dramatically lower temperatures at night—the diurnal shift prized by wine growers. The sunshine and accompanying UV favors thicker-skins, which concentrates flavor, color, and aromatics. The cooler nights maintain acidity and develop complex flavors and allows for extended hang time that builds phenolic maturity. The vineyards are ideal for organic farming.
Gaia is named for the Earth Mother goddess in Greek mythology. Founded in 1997, the Gaia brand by Domaine Bousquet creates non-classic wines using French winemaking styles. 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 very robust distribution capabilities in the U.S.
Domaine Bousquet Gaia Cabernet Franc, Gualtallary Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina 2018 is rich, tasty, balanced cab franc from on the world’s leading producers of organically-farmed wine. Tasting this at seven years old mellowed the wine, it also proved its ageability for wine costing less than $20. You are not likely to find this vintage in a store, but Domaine Bousquet is very consistent maker, so don’t hesitate to pick up a newer example. It will taste good tonight, and you can even put a bottle or two back for later enjoyment. $15-18
Pairing—rich, fatty cuts of red meat are classic; grilled ribeye or New York strip; braised short ribs, osso buco; slow-cooked brisket, barbecue. Lamb, roast pork with peppercorn crust or apple-based glaze. Herb-roasted poultry and game birds, wild turkey, duck confit. Mushroom-based vegetarian fare, porcini risotto, grilled portobello steaks; roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with balsamic reduction. Cheese—aged gouda, gorgonzola dolce, aged cheddar, tomme de savoie, gruyère, herb-crusted chèvre.
