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France + Argentina = Domaine Bousquet What happens when you blend the art of French winemaking with an Argentinian flair? The outcome is an amazing array of wines to sate one’s palate. Domaine Bousquet states, “The objective of the Bousquet family was to unite our tradition of European winemaking with the ideal agricultural conditions in Mendoza.” Domaine Bousquet is located in the Gualtallary Valley in Tupungato, part of Mendoza’s Uco Valley in Argentina. Sitting at an altitude of 4,000 feet, it is considered one of the highest altitude vineyards in Mendoza and the world!  Photo credit: Domaine Bousquet Gualtallary has up to 7 different types of soil, but Domaine Bousquet is the only estate with sand as its primary soil. Sandy soil drains well and retains heat that helps to produce highly aromatic wines. With minimal rainfall, water delivery to the vines is controlled by an irrigation process through a drop-by-drop system with pure mountain run-off, which creates lower pH in the grape, resulting in higher acidity, and more color in the wine. All of Domaine Bousquet wines are made from 100% organic fruit and always have been since the first vines were planted in the year 2000. With the benefits of cool climate, sandy soil, controlled water irrigation and healthy organic grapes, it sets the stage for quality wines. I have tasted and reviewed many wines from Domaine Bousquet’s collections, which includes their Premium wines, Reserve and Grande Reserve line. So, I was very excited when a bottle of Ameri Icon wine arrived.  Ameri wine is made only in the best vintage years from a single vineyard that sits at 1250 meters (4,125 ft.) making it the highest altitude vineyard on the estate. The grapes are harvested by hand and after fermentation and maceration, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 16 months.  Domaine Bousquet Ameri Single Vineyard 2015 is a beautiful blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 5% Merlot. The color is majestic purple with inviting aromas of dark and red berries, plum, spice and a touch of floral. The palate is layered with blackberry, raspberry, plum, violet, spice, anise, hints of pepper and vanilla leading to a lengthy finish. It is a full-bodied wine with silky tannins and undeniable elegance. Pair with pasta, meats, poultry, stews, and cheese. Only 500 cases are made, so get thee to a wine store! Alcohol: 14.7% SRP: $36 Ameri is named for the co-owner Labid al Ameri To learn more about the history of Domaine Bousquet estate, climate, terroir, wine reviews and the dynamic Anne Bousquet and her husband Labid al Ameri, please click on the menu at right. Until next time…  In August of 2017, I was first introduced to Susana Balbo wines. I was so impressed with this winemaker and her expressive wines that I wrote a two-part story. I recently received six more samples of Susana Balbo 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages. Needless to say, I was ecstatic with the prospect of tasting these wines.  Before I get into the nitty-gritty of Susana’s wines, I think it is worth the re-read from my last story that covered the history of this iconic woman! Susana Balbo is the founder and owner of Susana Balbo Wines in Argentina. Susana is not only the most well known Argentinian female winemaker globally, but she is also the first female enologist in Argentina! With over thirty years experience in the wine industry, Susana has built an impressive career and produces some outstanding wines.  Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines From an early age, Susana strayed from wanting a traditional “female” education by electing to study nuclear physics in Bariloche. However, her parents would not let her leave Mendoza to pursue this path. So, Susana made a decision to follow the family’s wine business and in 1981, she graduated from Don Bosco University with a degree in enology, becoming the first female enologist in Argentina and challenging the male-dominated wine industry in Mendoza. Susana’s career began at Michel Torino winery in the Salta province where she made her first wine in 1983. It was the first vintage of Torrontés from Salta. She then continued on to work at many other well-regarded wineries and also worked as a consultant winemaker for national and worldwide wineries before “birthing” Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. Her first vintage was released in 2002. Susana Balbo Wines is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza in western Argentina close to the Andes Mountains.  Susana Balbo Winery Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines Due to the close proximity of the Andes, the vineyards are subject to a hot, dry climate during the day and cool alpine winds in the evenings, thus allowing the grapes to develop and ripen slowly while reaching full tannic ripeness and maintaining their acidity. In addition to Susana’s two children, José, winemaker and Ana, Marketing Manager who joined the team in 2011 and 2012, esteemed winemaker and viticulturist, Edy Del Pópolo is also on board.  Susana with her children Ana and José. Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines Susana is renowned throughout the world for her winemaking talents and single vineyard wines. Susana is also a global ambassador for Argentina. In 2014 she was elected to serve a third term as President of Wines of Argentina. This year, Susana was invited to chair October’s W20 summit, an international gathering of women that is a project of the larger G20 group. They met to discuss promoting gender equality in the world’s 20 leading economies. Susana produces four brands of wine that include CRIOS, Susana Balbo Signature, Nosotros and BenMarco. The Susan Balbo Signature wines are individually fermented varietals that are then carefully blended. These wines are a reflection of Susana’s tastes and preferences by enhancing each grape’s character while expressing the terroir. 2018 Susana Balbo Signature Rosé is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Pinot Noir. Grapes were hand-harvested from vineyards in the Uco Valley. The color is salmon with beautiful floral, citrus and red berry aromas. The palate offers a fresh and lively acidity with strawberry, red cherry, minerality and hints of sweet melon on the finish. Drink as an aperitif or with fish, fowl, cheese and sushi. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20  2017 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso White Blend is made with 45% Semillón, 30% Torrontés and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Needless to say, this is a very seductive and aromatic wine. The grapes were hand-harvested from the high altitude vineyards of Altamira in the Uco Valley. The wine is aged four months in 60% first use French oak and 40% second use. The color is pale lemon with intense aromas of white lilies, citrus, pear and vanilla that segue onto the palate with hints of minerality on the finish. I could drink this wine all year long! Drink as an aperitif or with spicy food, cheese, fish and fowl. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $24  2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso is a beautiful blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot. The grapes were hand-harvested from Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo at elevations of over 3,300 feet. The wine was aged for 15 months in 100% new French oak. The color is deep red bordering on purple with intense aromas of black fruit and sweet spice. The palate offers a smooth blend of blackberry, dark plum, spice, pepper, dark cocoa and hints of cedar and floral. This is a luxurious and complex wine that is sure to age well. Pair with hearty meals and aged cheese. On the back label of the Brioso wine, Susana says, “Brioso means “a spirited love of challenge” and expresses my passionate drive to create a wine that reaches the pinnacle of quality.” Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $45  Edy Del Pópolo is a viticulturist and winemaker for BenMarco Wines. “BenMarco wines allow us to go higher in elevation and work in extreme sites never explored before”. The characteristics of the best soils and grapes of Mendoza are expressed in these wines. Vines are planted in complex alluvial soils and Edy brings the “purest interpretation of the soils to the wine by allowing the vines to speak without any winemaking influence.” The BenMarco wines are unfined and unfiltered.  Edy Del Pópolo Photo Credit: Susana Balbo Wines 2016 BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are hand-harvested from the alluvial soils of Los Árboles vineyards in the Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 11 months in 100% French oak. The color is dark ruby with floral, dark berries and plum aromas. The palate offers black cherry, dark plum, sour cherry, blackberry fennel and pepper. This is a perfect balance of juicy acidity and grippy tannins. Pair with stews, grilled meat, hearty pasta and aged cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $20  2016 BenMarco Malbec is 100% Malbec. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Los Chacayes region of the Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 11 months in 100% French oak. The color is deep ruby with aromas of floral, jammy fruit and spice. The palate offers succulent black fruit, dark plum, spice, pepper and hints of vanilla and oak on a long finish. This is a rich and expressive wine with just the right amount of acidity and tannins. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20  2016 BenMarco Expresivo is 75% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Gualtallary region of Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. The color is dark ruby with lush aromas of blackberry, black cherry, floral and hints of minerality. The palate is layered with spicy dark berries, dark plum, cranberry, earth, chalk, pepper and hints of vanilla and clove on a long finish. This wine has elegance and is beautifully balanced. It will be interesting to taste this again in a few years. Pair with grilled meats, fowl, spicy stews and hearty pasta. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $35  With state of the art technology and a nonstop commitment to seeking innovative ways to enhance her winemaking, Susana Balbo continues to produce elegant wines that are expressive of the terroir. I will end this story with one last quote. “The creation of my wines at Susana Balbo Wines is to me the maximum achievement as a winemaker, product of all my efforts and many years of hard work. I could say that the winery is like my third child, a dream come true.” Susana.  Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] It was a perfect summer evening. And it seemed like a good time to open a bottle of Domaine Bousquet Rosé to usher in the weekend.  Domaine Bousquet is located high up in the Gualtallary Valley of Tupungato, Argentina. The wines are quite noteworthy, incorporating French and Argentine techniques in the wine production.  I have written several stories about Domaine Bousquet. If you have the time, click on the links below to read more about the history of the estate, climate, terroir and the dynamic Anne Bousquet and her husband Labid al Ameri. Day 622 Bonjour Argentina! - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2018/01/day-622-bonjour-argentina.html Day 626 Bonjour Argentina! Part Two - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2018/02/day-626-bonjour-argentina-part-two.html Domaine Bousquet Rosé 2018 is a blend of 45% Malbec, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Gris organic grapes. The color is pink salmon with subtle aromas of strawberry, raspberry and a hint of citrus. The palate offers red berries, Bing cherries and a trace of lemon. This is a dry, crisp wine with medium acidity that is fresh and light. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $13  This is an easy wine to drink with salads, pasta dishes, fish and cheese. It paired beautifully with the pungent flavor of the Manchego cheese.  I think this going to be a white and Rosé wine kind of weekend!
Stay tuned for my next story on my travels to Veneto! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] |
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