I first came across Domaine Bousquet Malbec at the London Wine Fair, where I singled out Bousquet Gran Malbec, having won a Gold in the Drinks Business Malbec Masters. Here, I explore the winery further, along with its range of sister wines.
The Bousquet family, originally from Carcassonne in southern France, have four generations of winemaking expertise. Their passion for high-quality wine led them to Argentina, where they found the Gualtallary Valley in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, situated 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Andes. In 2011, Jean Bousquet handed over the winery to his daughter, Anne, and her husband, Labid Al Ameri, who continue to run it.
Domaine Bousquet has been organically farmed for over 25 years and is the first international winery to receive Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC™). It is also Argentina’s leading organic winery, producing seven million litres of organic wine annually and accounting for 65% of all organic wine exports from the country. Biodiversity is central to their practices, with a small herd of sheep used to control weeds and provide natural fertilisation.
Virgen Vineyards Organic Malbec 2022 is a distinctive expression of this grape variety, offering something different from the more robust Malbecs you might expect. With no added sulphites and 100% Malbec, this wine is a pure, unadulterated experience, free from oak influence, allowing the grape’s true nature to shine through. In the glass, it’s a medium ruby colour, a shade lighter than typical Malbecs. The nose is welcoming, with ripe aromas of plums and blackberries, providing a fruity yet delicate introduction. On the palate, the flavours of plums and slight blackberries continue, supported by a delicate earthy, spice/pepper undertone and soft, light tannins. It’s almost reminiscent of a great Pinot Noir. Its body is light to medium, making it refreshing and easy to drink. £13.95 to £14.75, available from Vintage Roots and Abel & Cole. A side note, my wife did comment the bottle label graphic might not be doing the wine any favours, as it’s easily wrongly read as ‘vinegar’!
Bousquet Reserve Organic Malbec 2022 is bolder and more concentrated, made from low-yielding vines to intensify the flavours. Its colour moves from ruby to garnet, hinting at the greater depth and richness. On the nose, the wine offers inviting aromas of dark cherries and bramble fruit. These aromas are mirrored on the palate, with flavours of red cherries and bramble fruit coming to the forefront, giving the wine a fruity profile with a cherry/almond aftertaste. The wine is dry, medium-bodied, with a touch of oak that rounds out the overall taste. The additional tannin, along with the subtle oak influence, makes it a more substantial and traditional Malbec experience. £15.50, available from Vintage Roots and Wholefoods Market.
Bousquet Gran Malbec 2021 is a more sophisticated and complex wine that brings together 85% Malbec with small but meaningful contributions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. This blend, alongside late-harvested grapes, results in a rich and fruit-forward wine, matured for 10 months in French oak, which adds layers of depth and character. On the nose, it offers a blend of ripe blackberries, cedar and a hint of tobacco. These deeper, more intense aromas translate beautifully to the palate, where flavours of blackberries and raspberries dominate. Medium to full-bodied, the oak aging provides additional structure and complexity, complementing the fruit with subtle undertones. What makes this wine different is a fleeting, deep, mid-taste sensation, perhaps caramel or butterscotch, that teases the senses. With an impressive 96 points from the International Wine & Spirits Competition, 90 points from Decanter, and 93 points from Tim Atkin MW, this wine has received high acclaim. £22, available from Vintage Roots and Wholefoods Market.
The Virgen Malbec is a light, pure Malbec offering a refreshing, natural profile. The Reserve Organic Malbec provides a richer experience with deeper fruit notes and a balanced, tannic structure. The Gran Organic Malbec delivers more complex layers of blackberry, cedar, and a hint of caramel, offering a more sophisticated, fuller-bodied wine with depth and intrigue. Each wine showcases its own strengths, from light purity to bold complexity.
