Organic Wines, Under $14, from Domaine Bousquet

Argentine winery Domaine Bousquet continues to make outstanding wines using certified organic grapes in Tupungato, Uco Valley, Argentina. Two of the wines in this group are part of Domaine Bousquet’s Premium Varietals line of wines made using organic fruit from estate and purchased from vineyards in the Uco Valley. The third wine is one of two wines in the Virgen line of wines made without added sulfites qualifying it to carry the USDA organic certification. We received all three wines as tasting samples.

From the very beginning of the development of Domaine Bousquet in Gualtallary Valley within the Tupungato district of the Uco Valley south of Mendoza in Argentina, all farming has been done organically. The land was undeveloped at the time Jean Bousquet first laid eyes on it in 1990. He eventually decided to leave southern France and continue the Bousquet family winemaking tradition in Argentina.

Jean planted vineyards and built a winery. Over time his daughter Anne Bousquet and her husband Labid Al Ameri became involved in operating Domaine Bousquet. In 2011 Anne and Labid became owners of the winery after gradually investing in it.

Domaine Bousquet vineyards cover nearly 100 acres of vines. The 4000 foot elevation means cool temperatures at night in this arid region that receives only 8 inches of rain annually. Soils are sandy and poor in organic matter. No pesticides or herbicides are used in the vineyards and all estate vineyards are certified organic.

2019 Domaine Bousquet Sauvignon Blanc, Tupungato, Argentina — pale yellow in the glass with generous aromas of dried hay, and gravelly minerality. White peach flavors lead to pears, dried hay, gravelly minerality and citrus. Stone fruit flavors linger. 12.5% abv. SRP $13

This lovely Sauvignon Blanc is easy sipping and lacks those tart gooseberry flavors that are often characteristic the variety. 

2019 Domaine Bousquet Rosé, Tupungato, Argentina — pale salmon in the glass with hints of flowers along with mixed berries. The flavors follow the aromas with white flowers, berries and tropical fruit notes in the background. Zippy acidity keeps the flavors light and the flavor profile finishes with a squeeze of ripe Meyer lemon. 12.5% abv. SRP $13

This delightful rosé is a blend of 45% Malbec, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Gris.

2018 Domaine Bousquet Virgen Organic Red Blend, Tupungato, Argentina — dense ruby with purple at the rim. Generous aromas include ripe plums, ripe blueberries and strawberries and crushed flower stems. Flavors of rich dark fruit include blueberries and blackberries with dusty earth and crushed flower stems in the background. The flavors are dark and rich without being over ripe at all. Tannins are well integrated with the flavors which last a long time. 15.5% abv. SRP $13

This is a complex, rich and dark red wine (a blend of 35% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc) that is a pleasure to sip. It reminds me of the second Domaine Bousquet wine I tasted: 2015 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red Blend. I fell for that wine with the first sip and this wine has many of the same flavors. Domaine Bousquet knows how to effectively blend Malbec. 

We paired these wines with grilled rosemary chicken and a warm grilled vegetable salad. It was pretty darn good.

I will leave you with a thought from Anne Bousquet that sums up the philosophy at Domaine Bousquet:

“By nourishing the land and treating it with respect, we know that the land will give us back its finest fruits.” 

So true. And the winemaking at Domaine Bousquet is respectful of the beautiful fruit flavors their vineyards give them.

These wines are a tremendous value. I hope you will look for them.

Cheers.