Around this time of year, a lot of folks become interested in sparkling wines, I guess because of their association with New Year’s Eve celebrations. But if you know me, you know that I’m an enthusiast of sparkling wines any time of year. If I had my druthers, every dinner would begin with a glass of sparkling wine.
Sparkling wines are often thought of as expensive wines, but that’s a misnomer. Sure, there are some luxury brands of sparkling wine that are expensive. But there are also plenty of really good sparklers priced for everyday enjoyment.
The wine I’m highlighting today is one such wine. The Domaine Bousquet Brut has a suggested retail price of just $13 — an absolute bargain for a sparkling wine this delicious.
Not only is it a bargain, but this wine is made from organically farmed grapes, certified by Ecocert. Domaine Bousquet has been producing organically for several years now and has demonstrated a commitment to operating sustainably.
How are they able to produce a wine like this at such an affordable price? For one, their vineyards are located in the Gualtallary subzone of Mendoza, Argentina. This is not a region that’s known for sparkling wines, so you’re not paying a premium to get a sparkling wine from here as you would with some other regions. It also happens to be a high-altitude region that’s well-suited for organic grape farming.
Another way Domaine Bousquet keeps the prices of this wine affordable is by using the charmat method to create the bubbles in this wine, which is less expensive than the traditional method. Although, if you’re a stickler for traditional method sparklers, don’t write off Domaine Bousquet as they also create a couple traditional method sparklers that sell for about $5 more than this one — also a great deal.
Tasting Notes
The nose of this sparkler offers yellow delicious apple, dried straw, floral and wet stone aromas. The flavors are predominantly tart apple and lime, with a nice mouthfeel that has adequate bubbles. Those tart flavors linger into the finish where this wine also reveals some saline qualities. It’s a very tasty sparkler and an outstanding value.
Wine: Domaine Bousquet Brut
Varieties: 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir
Vintage: Non-vintage
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 88
Average price: $13.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.