Who makes it?

Gaia is one of the wines made by Domaine Bousquet, an Argentinian winery founded by a French winemaker from the South of France in the 1990s. It is an organic wine producer and it is has a rather large portfolio of wines. This is one of their Gaia line of wines and whereas most of those in the range are blends, this is a straight Malbec. They also do a Virgen Vineyards range that has no added sulphites. 

How do they make it?

This malbec has been sourced from Mendoza vineyards around 1 200 metres in altitude or 4 000 feet. Up there in the Uco Valley. Here the soil type and lack of rain make organic wine grape growing not uncommon as these conditions do lend themselves to very successful organic growing. The high altitude also means that the night time temperatures ensure the wines have fresh acid while that reliable sunshine ripens those grapes.

The wine has then spent 8 – 10 months in French oak before bottling. 

What does it taste like?

The Gaia malbec is fuller in body with peppery plum, raspberry and black fruit. The tannins were supple and well judged making this a richer bolder mouthful. That oak is kept fresh with a flush of acid. 

This is a good wine for the price and delivers some hedonistic pleasure. 

What to drink it with?

A juicy burger would not go amiss here, nor a Sunday roast. 

Cheese

A hard matured cheese is a great option. Either a cheddar or gouda or Comte. 

Quickie review « A lush coloured red that is peppery, fruity and fresh! Hard to resist and organic too. »

Country of Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Tasting Date: October 2023
Price:  UK £12 | €19  |USD$ 15 ++ 
Drink: now – 5+ years 
Needs food: no
Source: tasting

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Visit Domainebousquet for more.