Domaine Bousquet, Mendoza (Argentina) Malbec 2019

 Jean Bousquet was the fourth-generation owner of his family’s vineyards and winery in Carcassonne in the south of France.  In 1990, he took a trip to Argentina where he visited a remote area of the Tupungato district of the Uco Valley in Mendoza called Gualtallary.  At the time it was considered too cold and too steep for grape growing, but Bousquet saw great promise.  He sold the family winery and headed to Argentina.  In 1997 he acquired 110 hectares of pristine land and started planting vines.  He certainly picked a great spot for the freshest, liveliest Malbec I have encountered.  The ripe blackberry, blueberry fruit is laced with floral notes and dusty mineral notes lifted with bright, lively acidity and supported by ripe tannins.