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Wine of the Week, May 10, 2015

DOMAINE BOUSQUET MALBEC 2014
MENDOZZA, ARGENTINA




By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"


About fifteen years ago, it could be said that a Malbec wine from Mendozza, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, was predictably good. Then, for a period of about three to five years, the wines were flabby, blah, and uninteresting. What this was due to, I'm not entirely sure. Did the vintners have to import grapes from other regions to keep up with the demand? Did they rush the wine-making process, not allowing sufficient time for aging. Was there a period when the weather was not conducive to producing quality grapes? As I said, I'm not sure of the loss of quality. However, it may now be said once again that a Malbec wine from Mendozza, Argentina is predictably good. The Malbec grape is the most widely planted red grape variety in Argentina. Domaine Bousquet is made from organically grown grapes. Organic may not make a difference in taste, but it certainly does in health: no artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. This delicious Malbec has aromas and flavors of blackberry, currant, and plum, with the typical Malbec spice; its tannins are soft, and its finish is long. A great match for grilled meats.

About fifteen years ago, it could be said that a Malbec wine from Mendozza, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, was predictably good. Then, for a period of about three to five years, the wines were flabby, blah, and uninteresting. What this was due to, I'm not entirely sure. Did the vintners have to import grapes from other regions to keep up with the demand? Did they rush the wine-making process, not allowing sufficient time for aging. Was there a period when the weather was not conducive to producing quality grapes? As I said, I'm not sure of the loss of quality. However, it may now be said once again that a Malbec wine from Mendozza, Argentina is predictably good. The Malbec grape is the most widely planted red grape variety in Argentina. Domaine Bousquet is made from organically grown grapes. Organic may not make a difference in taste, but it certainly does in health: no artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. This delicious Malbec has aromas and flavors of blackberry, currant, and plum, with the typical Malbec spice; its tannins are soft, and its finish is long. A great match for grilled meats.