Review: Domaine Bousquet Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon

Over the years of reviewing wines on this site, I’ve featured a lot of wines from Domaine Bousquet. Simply put, I’ve become a fan of theirs for creating high-quality, delicious wines at a great value, while also following world-class sustainability practices. While they consistently release really good wines, the Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon that I’m highlighting in this post is a stand-out from their lineup! It’s an absolutely delicious wine.

Sustainability and Community Impact: A Closer Look at Domaine Bousquet’s Commitment

Domaine Bousquet holds a far-reaching vision that extends beyond winemaking. From the beginning, their vineyards have been grown organically, a choice that reflects their commitment to the environment. This sustainable farming approach promotes the health of the soil, the vines, and, importantly, the people who tend the vines.

The winery has made substantial efforts to ensure economic sustainability for the surrounding community. This includes funding the construction of a new road, providing better access for employees, deliveries, and tourists, and implementing a workforce training program.

In addition to this, Domaine Bousquet has initiated several other projects that have transformed the Tupungato economy. Today, the wine industry is a significant part of the local economy, and Domaine Bousquet is proud to have played a key role in this transformation.

All this is not just lip service either. They are committed to sustainability and have acquired a number of third party certifications to verify their efforts and hold them accountable to them. Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), Certified B Corp and Eco Cert are just a few of those certifications.

As you sip on a glass of Domaine Bousquet wine, you don’t just savor a fantastic wine; you become part of a broader mission. A mission that supports organic farming, community development, and above all, the crafting of exceptional wines.

Making Domaine Bousquet Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon

The grapes for this wine come from Domaine Bousquet’s original vineyard in the high desert of Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region, is where sand and rare access to water come together to create magic.

The vineyard, nourished by Andean breezes, benefits from a desert-like climate marked by significant day and night temperature differentials. The predominantly sandy soil of this vineyard results in low fertility — a factor that induces desirable vine stress while maintaining good drainage. Rainfall, while scant at an average 8-inches or less per year, is supplemented by invaluable groundwater from Andes snowmelt. This groundwater irrigates the vines drop-by-drop.

Their process employs hand harvesting, careful selection of clusters and grapes, cold maceration, fermentation with selected yeast, 100% malolactic fermentation, and aging in French oak for 10 months — each step is taken with precision and with a singular aim — to craft a wine that speaks of its origin, that echoes the passion and labor poured into its making.

The result? A wine of extraordinary caliber.

Tasting Notes

Lush blackberry, black cherry, cassis and vanilla aromas give this wine a beautiful nose. The palate offers a silky mouthfeel with delicious flavors much like the aromas: blackberry, cassis, black cherry and vanilla. The acidity is vibrant. It has a long finish with dark berry flavors.

This is a stellar Cabernet Sauvignon. While it is at the upper end of my “bargain hunter” price range, it drinks like a wine that could sell at twice the price, or more.

Wine: Domaine Bousquet, Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon
Varieties:  85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec
Vintage: 2021
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 94
Average price: $25.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.