Argentina

• Mendoza
  • Valle de Uco

This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec from Argentina.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very good with cassis, plums, dust, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking well with flavors of black cherries, cassis, and spice.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five years.  A great choice with burgers or ribs off the grill.  

An interesting wine.  The literature along with the wine indicated that this was sweet, but not really.  Perhaps a perception of sweetness and indeed, the literature also indicates that the sugars are 1.61 (assuming g/l).  In any event, this is a really nice Chardonnay that should be quite popular.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with some tropical fruits (pineapple and guava) but also a bit of lemon.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, the lemon leads but is quickly followed by pineapple and a bit of peach.  Clean and while not "crisp" it is not cumbe

Made from organic grapes.  As prices on Sauvignon Blancs continue to rise, this is a sensational value.  Light green/silver/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has limes, with a slight granny smith apple note.  Light bodied.  Good balance.  Easy drinking but flavorful.  On the palate, apples and slight lime notes.  Good acidity.  Refreshing finish.  This is nice on its own and will work with lighter foods and even many fried appetizers.  Screw capped.  Drink over the next year or two.  

This is a Chardonnay from Argentina.  Light golden in color, watery at the rim, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit reductive but also some grapefruit and a bit of minerality.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, nice minerality with slight lemon notes.  Moderate finish. This is a very refreshing wine that is nice on its own and would work well with a Tuna or Crab salad.  Drink over the next few years.  

Domaine Bousquet remains a great source for well priced wines that are not only very good to outstanding, but made in a sustainable way.  This is 100% Malbec from Argentina.  Purple in  color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with plums, cedar, and a slight note of raisin.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, plums and black cherries with a slight dark chocolate note.  Not the most complex wine in the world but quite tasty and a fantastic value.  This is great on its own and works very well with meats, fowl or veggies off the grill.  

One of the better Argentinian Malbecs that I have had.  Made from very old vines and brought up in concrete eggs.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, boysenberries and slight strawberries along with a nice minerality.  Great plush texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate black raspberries, with a tart acidity.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but also delicious.  Great on its own, it will need bigger foods to work with.  A great choice with a grilled steak.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Light golden in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruit, slight chamomile and slight spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Tart acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, grapefruit and granny smith apples.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Seafood would work but so would fried chicken.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.

This is a Pinot Noir from Argentina.  Pale Ruby in color, clear at the rim, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight blueberries and a bit of dried herbal notes.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, cherries with a touch of sandalwood.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but would be even better with food.  A nice wine to serve with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next five years.  

Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has ripe plums, black raspberries, violets and a nice earthy note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good energy.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Black raspberry and raspberry fruits with some earthiness.  Good finish.  This drinks easy but should gain some complexity as it ages.  Drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with comfort food dishes such as Beef Stroganoff.  Outstanding value!

Bousquet has long been producing quality wines coming out of Argentina at enviable price points. This Chardonnay straddles that line between a linear reductive style and a more malolactic fermented, brighter style. It works. And that it takes these two worlds and combines them rather seamlessly. Yes, you get the upfront lemon, lime kefir, guava, apricot and white peach notes, but there is also that silky, smooth lightly buttery style that makes this an easy drinking wine. Additionally, the acidity is spot on providing support and structure for the whole of the wine.