2022 Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon ($13) A 1990 vacation in Argentina was all it took. For third-generation winemaker Jean Bousquet, it was love at first sight. The object of the Frenchman’s desire: the Gualtallary Valley, a scenic, remote, arid terrain high in the Tupungato district of the Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region, close to the border with Chile. Here, where the condors fly and not a vine in sight, Bousquet discovered his dream terroir, an ideal location in which to nurture organically-grown wines. Jean Bousquet reckoned he’d found the perfect blend between his French h ..read more

Photo by Subhash Nusetti on Unsplash It really is true that southern hemisphere wines are older than northern hemisphere wines! This is simply because of the opposite seasons between the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. So, if you compare wines labeled as "2020" from a southern hemisphere country versus a northern hemisphere country, the wine from the southern hemisphere would have been harvested earlier in the year 2020 (typically between February and April), while the wine from the northern hemisphere would have been harvested later in the year 2020 (typically between August ..read more

Embraced for their freshness, vibrant aromatics and fruit-forward qualities, wines from the Gualtallary zone of Tupungato in Mendoza’s Uco Valley have become “must-haves” for Argentine connoisseurs. With altitudes ranging up to 5,249 feet, Gualtallary occupies the highest extremes of Mendoza’s viticultural limits. Domaine Bousquet, an early pioneer in this high-altitude sub-region of the Uco Valley, stands out for its singular reliance on eco-friendly organic fruit. And their prices are very competitive! Today, Domaine Bousquet is housed in a striking modern winery, complete with a hospitalit ..read more

Photo by Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are two very popular white wine grape varieties that are considered go-to wines for many people just looking to enjoy a glass of wine. The differences of their aromas and flavors really depend on where they were grown, what their vintages were like and what kind of styles the winemakers were seeking. Oak aging can also have a tremendous effect on the final product. Here is a quick summary of some of the major characteristics of each wine: Flavor, Body and Texture Chardonnay: Un-oaked Chardonnay will have flavors of apple ..read more

Vermut Flores Rosé ($19) As was noted in a previous blog, vermouth is a wine - a fortified wine. A fortified wine that is infused with a mixture of botanical products including fruits, herbs, spices and roots. After the wine is aromatized and fortified, the Vermouth may be bottled dry, or sweeteners such as sugar may be added to create the sweet style of Vermouth, like this one. This Basta Spirit Flores Rosé vermouth is from Uruguay and is made from Tannat grapes that are pressed and left in brief contact with the skins to create a rosé which acts as the base wine for the Vermouth. Flores is ..read more

Wormwood Photo by Simone Garritano on Unsplash You probably know Vermouth simply as an ingredient in a cocktail such as a Martini or Manhattan. But, did you know it’s actually a wine? Vermouth is actually a fortified wine that is flavored with various botanicals, herbs, spices, and sometimes fruits. According to records, vermouth was first produced in the late 18th century for medicinal purposes with aromatics playing the healing role. Wormwood (shown in the image) is credited for the original naming of Vermouth since the German word for Wormwood is “Wermut.” The process of making vermouth in ..read more

2018 Alto de la Ballena Reserva Tannat-Viognier ($26) Alto de la Ballena is a small winery founded by husband and wife Paula Pivel and Alvaro Lorenzo. They began its plantations in 2001 with first harvest in 2005 and the first wines were presented to the market in 2007. Located in the Sierra de la Ballena, 15 km (9.3 miles) from the coast, Alto de la Ballena combines oceanic air and mountain soils. There are just over 8 hectares (~20 acres) of Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Viognier, for a limited production of high quality wines. This wine is produced from both Tannat (85%) and Vi ..read more

Winemakers sometimes blend Viognier with Tannat. But why would they combine a white wine with a red wine? Blending Viognier with Tannat actually provides several benefits to winemakers: Enhanced Color: Tannat is known for its deep ruby red color. Adding Viognier to Tannat actually acts to brighten the overall color of the wine and make it more visually appealing. Greater Structure and Complexity: Blending Viognier with Tannat helps soften the wine and balance it out, providing more even structure and greater complexity. Enhanced Aromas: Viognier is highly aromatic, providing floral and ..read more

2020 Pisano RPF Tannat ($24) Pisano is part of a group of small family wineries in Uruguay with an artisan tradition of making wines that reflect the character of the land and the people who make them. Pisano is located on the ‘Rio de la Plata’ near the Atlantic Ocean in southern Uruguay. At Pisano, family hands cultivate the grapes, taking away excess crops in productive years, taking leaves away to expose the bunches to the sun for better maturation and skin color. The RPF (Reserva Personal de la Familia) wines were created with the aim of keeping limited quantities for the family’s persona ..read more

2020 Bodega Cerro del Toro Tannat ($25) Bodega Cerro del Toro is a Uruguayan wine project that was born in 2016 with the aim of producing high-quality wines in a privileged location on the Maldonado coast of Uruguay. The grapes for this Tannat were grow at the foot of Cerro del Toro (meaning ‘Bull Hill’), just over one mile from the coast in a microclimate with a deep influence of the sea breeze. This wine was produced from 100% Tannat grapes that were destemmed and cold soaked for 24 hours. Fermentation was done in stainless steel tanks with selected yeast for 10 days. Pump-overs were carrie ..read more