Learn everything about Domaine du Bouscat Bordeaux Superieur wine with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Domaine du Bouscat History, Overview
Domaine du Bouscat is located close to Fronsac, in St. Romain La Virvee, not far from the Dordogne river. Domaine du Bouscat has a long history in the region. The estate was created in 1870 by the Dubernard family.
Today, Domaine du Bouscat is owned by François Dubernard, who took over management of the property in 1998. Domaine du Bouscat produces three wines Bouscat Caduce, Bouscat La Gargone and Bouscat Les Portes de l’Am are all great examples of Bordeaux value wines.
A lot of work in the vineyard goes into producing all three wines. Standard vineyard practices include sustainable vineyard management without the use of pesticides. Low yields and ripe fruit are the goals for all three wines from Domaine du Bouscat.
Domaine du Bouscat Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce is the entry level wine for Domaine du Bouscat. The wine is produced from an 8-hectare vineyard that is planted to 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc. On average, the vines are 37 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density that ranges from 4,500 vines per hectare up to 5,500 vines per hectare.
The vinification of Domaine du Bouscat Cauduce takes place in unlined cement vats. This follows a 3-day, cold soak at 12 degrees Celsius. The maceration lasts for an average of 25 days and is punctuated with regular microbullages. The wine of Domaine du Bouscat Cauduce goes through a unique aging process.
The wine is aged on its post malolactic lees for four months in vat before it’s transferred to a unique combination of new and used, French oak barrels, 340 liters, and 600-liter demi-muids to finish its aging. Domaine du Bouscat Caduce produces on average, 3,000 cases of wine per year.
Domaine du Bouscat Belle-Annie is the estate’s newest offering. Using a Merlot-dominated blend, the wine made its debut with the 2019 vintage.
Domaine du Bouscat La Gargone is produced from a 3.3-hectare vineyard planted to 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are old, with an average age of 38 years. The vineyard is planted to a vine density that ranges from 4,500 vines per hectare up to 5,500 vines per hectare.
The vinification of Domaine du Bouscat La Gargone takes place in unlined cement vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine of Domaine du Bouscat La Gargone is aged in 95% new, French oak barrels. The production of Domaine du Bouscat La Gargone is close to 800 cases per year.
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L’Am is the top wine from the Right Bank estate. The wine made its debut with the 2003 vintage. The wine is produced from a small, .7 hectare portion of the property’s hillside vineyard.
The vineyard is planted to a unique vineyard blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 25% Cabernet Franc. The terroir is clay and limestone soils. The vines are close to 38 years of age.
To produce Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L’Am, the fruit is sorted three times before it undergoes a two-day, cold soak at 6 degrees Celsius. The wine undergoes micro-vinification techniques, meaning that fermentation takes place in two, 600-liter demi-muids. One of the demi-muids is new, French oak, the other is one year old, French oak.
The grapes are macerated for an average of 26 days and are punctuated with regular microbullages. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French Muid’Oc, 320 liters, barrels.
The wine is then aged in the same 320-liter barrels for an average of 17 to 19 months. Try finding a bottle as not much wine is made. On average, the production of Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L’Am is close to 2,200 bottles per vintage. Domaine du Bouscat is consulted by Claude Gros.
The best vintages of Domaine du Bouscat are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2009.
When to Drink Domaine du Bouscat, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Domaine du Bouscat is better with at least 2-5 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour or more, helping the wine soften to help develop the aromatic character.
Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Domaine du Bouscat offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-12 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Domaine du Bouscat with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Domaine du Bouscat is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Domaine du Bouscat is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Domaine du Bouscat is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
Domaine du Bouscat is one of the top Bordeaux value wines available, pairing quality, style, and a consumer, friendly price.
Domaine du Bouscat Wine Tasting Notes
39 Vintages 94,799 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
2022
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark in color, the wine is all about its multiple layers of unctuous black, red and blue fruits. The wine has density, richness and concentration. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Malbec. This wine is a Signature Selection Exclusive. Drink from 2025-2035. 91-93 Pts. 2,365 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
2022
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Inky, dark in color, the wine is packed with flowers, black cherries and chocolate. Lush and creamy on the palate, this is already a pleasure to taste. Drink from 2024-2028. 90-92 Pts. 2,376 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
2022
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark, round, fresh and fruity, with creamy textures and dark chocolate coated plums on the back end. This is a steal for the price, and it is perfect to enjoy on release. Drink this charmer over the next few years. Drink from 2025-2030. 89-91 Pts. 2,297 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
2021
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Deeply colored, the wine is loaded with dark plums and black cherries with accents of licorice, cocoa, and espresso. The wine offers plenty of ripe, round, fleshy fruits on the palate and in the finish. This wine is a Signature Selection Exclusive. Drink from 2023-2034. 90-92 1,757 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2021
Domaine du Bouscat Belle-Annie (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Licorice, cocoa, and plums come through easily here. Soft, plummy, round, and forward, you can drink this on release with pleasure. Drink from 2022-2029. 88-90 1,678 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2021
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Fruity, fresh, ripe with chocolate-covered cherries and plums on the nose and palate. Drink this charmer over the next few years. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89 1,769 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2021
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Black raspberries, with cocoa, licorice and espresso in the nose and mid-palate. The medium-bodied wine is forward, round and still a bit on the oaky side. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89 1,703 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2020
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Inky in color, the wine is packed with jammy black and red fruits, smoke, chocolate, spice and flowers. Rich, opulent, powerful and mouth-filling, this is packed with chocolate-covered fruits and espresso from start to finish. Drink from 2023-2035. 1,335 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Opaque in color, the attention seeking perfume opens with blackberry liqueur, roasted plums, incense and chocolate mint. Full-bodied, fleshy, showy and concentrated, the wine is rich, long, sweet, chewy and dense, finishing with a refreshing touch of spearmint in the endnote. The wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 92-94 Pts 2,359 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2020
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Smoke, chocolate, licorice, espresso, and black with blue fruit notes are all over the place. Dark, ripe, sweet and lush, with layers of chocolate-coated, pit fruits, spice and espresso from start to finish are what you will find here. And it is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2023-2037. 1,357 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Black and blue fruit galore with additional nuances of dark chocolate, licorice, espresso and spice. The wine is rich, full-bodied, supple and long. You can enjoy it in its youth for all its lush, polished, sweet, ripe and exuberant fruit. 91-93 Pts 2,369 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2020
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Flowers, chocolate, plums, licorice and smoke already show in the nose. The wine is plush, polished and round, with a supple-textured, rich, creamy, black pit fruit and cocoa packed mid-palate and finish. This is going to offer pleasure on release and for a decade or so after that. Drink from 2023-2033. 1,298 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Dark in color, the wine is lush, plush and polished, with layers of supple textured, sweet, chocolate covered cherries, licorice and spice with a savory touch in the finish. This should be just great on release. 90-92 Pts 2,305 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2020
Domaine du Bouscat Belle-Annie (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Medium-bodied, forward, fruity, soft, creamy, plum and black cherry and cocoa filled wine that is perfect for delicious, near-term, easy-going enjoyment. Drink from 2023-2030. 1,275 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023 |
2019
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark, almost opaque in color, the wine explodes with flowers, boysenberry, blackberry, chocolate, smoke, plum liqueur. mint, espresso and licorice. Powerful, full-bodied, rich and intense, this supple, opulent thrill ride is as intense as it is hedonistic. The layers of polished dark in fruits in the finish make an impression. Wine like this clearly illustrate what a dedicated producer can create in less exalted terroirs. The wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. Drink from 2023-2035. 984 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Inky in color, jam, smoke, blackberry, plum liqueur and licorice are in your face. Dense, rich and fat, the fruit coats your palate with layers of black and blue fruit that does not quit. Sweet, and a bit blueberry pie-ish, but in a good way, this wine really shows what a dedicated producer can create in less exalted terroirs. The wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 91-93 Pts 3,268 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2019
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Savory herbs, olives, 5 spice, coffee bean and dark, red sweet fruits are found on the nose and palate. Fresh, fruity, creamy and rich, the wine leaves you with layers of sweet, ripe fruits, oak, spice and crushed rocks in the finish. Drink from 2022-2034. 950 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Deeply colored, the licorice, smoke, dark red fruits, vanilla and coffee bean get the nose going. Opulent, rich, fat, jammy and juicy, with enough fruit to make a pie, this is already so much fun to taste. 91-93 Pts 3,266 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2019
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Deep in color, the wine is loaded with licorice, blackberries, jam, espresso, chocolate and black cherries. Lush, round, forward and fruity, the creamy finish, with all of its layers of chocolate covered fruit is already just great to taste today. Drink from 2022-2033. 901 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Cinnamon, 5 spice, barbecue and earthy, ripe, red sweet fruits with soft textures and loads of juicy red fruits, coffee bean and licorice in the fruity finish. 90-92 Pts 3,190 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2019
Domaine du Bouscat Belle-Annie (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Black and blue fruit, licorice and oak come through on the nose and on the palate. The wine is full-bodied, round, lush, sweet and fresh with a light touch of salt along with the creamy tannins in the dark, fruit-packed finish. Drink from 2022-2034. 891 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Sweet, round, lush and forward with a fruity character, early-drinking charm and loads of black raspberry, vanilla and espresso on the nose and palate. 89-91 Pts 3,350 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2018
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Inky dark in color, just from the looks of this you know it's going to have lots to offer, starting with the showy nose and all its espresso bean, licorice, dark, bitter chocolate, plum liqueur and blue fruit notes. Dense, plush opulent layers of sweet, perfectly ripe, black red fruits taste as good as they feel. A blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc is pure hedonism in a glass. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Signature Selection Exclusive. 1,256 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021The color of ink, this stunner is fat, plush, juicy and loaded to brim with licorice, plums, flowers and chocolate covered cherries. Opulent in texture, this blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc is pure hedonism in a glass. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Signature Selection Exclusive. 92-94 Pts 1,755 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2018
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Round, fleshy and packed with black cherries, espresso, licorice and cocoa, this is lush, rich, ripe and decadently fruity. Plus it drinks well young. The wine is made from blending 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Franc. 1,252 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Inky in color, the wine is round, sweet, floral, juicy, fleshy, frruity and already easy to drink. The wine is made from blending 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts 1,735 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2018
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
This is loaded with ripe, sweet, round, juicy fruits, licorice and spice from the get-go. On the palate the wine really gets going with its blast of sweet fruits and bitter chocolate. It is amazing that you can buy a wine this good for such little money. If you are looking for an early drinking Bordeaux value play, this is it. The wine is an exclusive in the American market for Jeffrey Davies Signature Selections. 1,511 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Juicy, dark, sweet and fresh, with round textures and a blast of ripe black cherries from the get-go. It is amazing that you can buy wine this good for such little money. If you are looking for an early drinking value play, this is it. The wine is an exclusive in the American market for Jeffrey Davies Signature Selections. 90-92 Pts 2,019 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2017
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
From blending 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc, you get a wine that is deep in color, forward, soft and easy to drink. The wine is ripe and juicy, showing a touch of oak on top of all the ripe, sweet, fleshy fruits. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Signature Selection Exclusive. 1,326 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
2017
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
A real success for the vintage, the wine, produced from a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon kicks off with espresso and chocolate coated ripe, sweet dark red berries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is forward, serving up its fresh, sweet, dark red fruits with ease. It’s difficult to find better Bordeaux value wines for under $20! This is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 1,954 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
2017
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark in color, juicy, black fruit and licorice are on the nose and palate. The wine is round and fleshy, forward and will drink great on release. 1,410 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
2016
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
When you take 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc from vines that are almost 40 years of age, with low yields of only 14 hectoliters per hectare, it's easy to understand how you get such a dark, inky color. Licorice and black cherry liqueur are all over the place. Dense rich, lushly textured and forward, this is packed with freshness and flavor. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Signature Selection Exclusive. 1,323 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2016
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Inky in color, this blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Franc delivers a wine that is sweet, lush, fresh and offers density with a lot of fruit. 1,838 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2016
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Made from a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine is deep and dark in color, with licorice, espresso, and dark red berries. Forward, easy drinking, fruity and crowd pleasing in style. It's very hard to a better wine for the money. 1,713 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2015
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Deep in color, the full bodied, rich wine is loaded with fat, sweet, opulent, chocolate covered cherries, licorice and an array of spices. The user friendly styled wine should deliver pleasure early. There is no sensation of heat, even though the wine reached 15% ABV. This is a contender for the best Bordeaux Superieur of the 2015 vintage. The wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 2,145 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
2015
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
The dark color is the first thing you notice. But it is the lush, juicy, sweet layers of cocoa, black cherry and thyme and its plush textures, coupled with the low price point that makes this a buy. 2,327 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
2015
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Floral, fresh and loaded with sweet, ripe, juicy black cherries topped with licorice in a round, easy to like forward style. 3,047 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
2014
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
When you take 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc from vines that are 36 years of age, low yields of only 19 hectoliters per hectare and micro vinify your wine, you can produce a wine that is dark in color, with layers of fat, sweet, ripe, juicy black fruits and lush textures. This hedonistic treat could get even better in bottle. OK, this is not a wine you marry. But it's a great one night stand! The wine reached 14.2% ABV. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 89-91 Pts 1,840 Views Tasted May 1, 2015 |
2014
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark in color, powerful aromas of chocolate coated ripe, sweet dark red berries with lots of supple texture and personality. It’s going to be difficult to find a better 2014 Bordeaux for under $20! This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 88-90 Pts 1,736 Views Tasted May 1, 2015 |
2014
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Ripe, plush, soft, fruity early drinker that offers character and value with a spicy, fruit filled finish. 86-87 Pts 2,050 Views Tasted May 1, 2015 |
2013
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Deep in color, with a lot of richness for the vintage, dark fruit, chocolate and coffee bean are the first thing you notice before moving on to the fresh, black raspberry dominated finish. With a tannic backbone, this should be better after a few years of aging. From an interesting blend of 40% Malbec, 35% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc, the wine was produced from yields of just 10 hectoliters per hectare and is aging in 100% new, French oak. 88-90 Pts 1,774 Views Tasted May 1, 2014 |
2013
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
With loads of spicy, dark berries and espresso bean, the wine is tannic, with some flesh, but there is a dry, oaky sensation in the finish. From low yields of 12 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is aging in 100% new French oak. 84-86 Pts 1,442 Views Tasted May 1, 2014 |
2013
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
From 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc. Sweet, open, easy to drink raspberry and cherry filled quaffer that offers a lot of value for the money. 83-85 Pts 1,727 Views Tasted May 1, 2014 |
2012
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Dark in color, with a fat, dark fruit, sweet, low acid personality, loads of sweet, licorice and black cherry notes and a fleshy, ripe, sweet, fat, jammy finish. 1,522 Views Tasted May 15, 2015With deep color, floral, black raspberry and licorice notes, the wine is sweet, rich, round, concentrated with lush, ripe, fresh fruit. 89-91 Pts 1,767 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
2012
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Forward, lush, soft, licorice, espresso bean and sweet fruits deliver early drinking pleasure and a real bang for the buck. 1,344 Views Tasted May 15, 2015Fennel, earth, black cherries and jam are produced from a blend that includes 20% Malbec. Made from low yields, the wine is fresh, lively and represents true value. 88-90 Pts 1,574 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
2012
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
Medium-bodied with licorice and blackberries, the wine is round, simple and easy to quaff. For a wine that will sell for $10-12, this represents great value. 86-88 Pts 2,068 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
2011
Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am (Bordeaux Supérieur)
The third wine from Bouscat and the most intense, the wine is inky in color. From old vines planted in clay and limestone soil from a tiny.7 hectare vineyard, the blend consists of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc. Licorice, truffle, mineral and black cherry scents open to an intense, ripe, opulent wine that is dense and packed with ripe, black, juicy, sweet fruit. Only 2,100 bottles are produced. 90-92 Pts 1,380 Views Tasted Apr 20, 2012 |
2011
Domaine du Bouscat Cuvée la Gargone (Bordeaux Supérieur)
This tiny 3.3 hectare vineyard, situated not far from Fronsac, contains a whopping 20% Malbec, along with 60% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is fermented in unlined cement tanks and is aged in 95% new oak. Deep in color with vanilla, blackberry, coffee and boysenberry, the wine is rich, ripe and plush, ending with an opulent, fruit-filled finish. 88-90 Pts 1,787 Views Tasted Apr 20, 2012 |
2011
Domaine du Bouscat Caduce (Bordeaux Supérieur)
From a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc with vines that are an impressive 37 years of age. With good color, licorice, black cherry and vanilla, the wine is sweet, round and approachable. 87-88 Pts 1,868 Views Tasted Apr 20, 2012 |