Cheval des Andes Cheval des Andes 2019

The 2019 Cheval des Andes had a more reductive vinification and élevage, making the wine a bit shy and in need of time to open up, as one of their objectives was to make it more age-worthy. Another objective is to get to a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which they achieved in this vintage for the first time, going back to the initial character of the wine that was the idea of Argentinean winemaker Roberto de la Mota; so, they are closing the circle and going back to the initial idea, with more implication from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet,....The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gerald attributed to the reductiveness; it's ripe without excess, with around 14.2% alcohol, mellow acidity and velvety tannins. There's more Cabernet here, so the aromatic expression can be something between 2017 and 2018, but Cabernet marks the palate a lot and makes the wine more age-worthy, as it provides the structure and length that the Malbec lacks. So, the wine might be less accessible when young and should develop slowly in bottle. It's tasty and supple and has the ingredients and the balance for what they are aiming for. ….The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree. (LG) (8/2022)

A refined but spicy Cheval, showing charcoal, blueberries, wild herbs, lavender and hints of bacon and cedar. Medium to full body with extremely fine tannins that get dialed into the fruit with violet, spices and sweet blue fruit at the end. Long and subtle. (4/2022)

The 2019 Cheval des Andes is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira, Mendoza. The 2019 was 40% aged in 225-liter barrels, 40% in 500-liter barrels and 20% in foudres. It’s red with violet flecks in the glass. It has a fresh nose of plum and blackcurrant accompanied by hints of white pepper, mint and violets over a bed of cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, the feel is finely grained with a leaner, more agile flow than in previous years, while the freshness brings plenty of energy before the lengthy finish of fruit and country herb aromas. (JH) (11/2022)

A bold and structured red, with aromas of smoke and graphite leading to rich, concentrated tiers of blackberry, cassis and plum. Beneath the muscle is ample fresh acidity, carrying abundant violet and spice nuances toward the lengthy finish, which reveals fine tannins. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The finest vintage of Cheval des Andes to date. Sensual notes of ripe red berry fruits interplay with wild herbs, graphite and a hint of violet. A fine texture with great length expressing the concentration of fruit from Las Compuertas and freshness of fruit from Altamira. A great show of the increasing elegance in the modern vintages of this top estate in Argentina. (AB) (3/2022)

Continuing the trend of more Malbec in the blend, the 2018 Cheval Des Andes is another remarkable wine based on 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that was fermented in tank and aged in 40% new Bordeaux barrels, with the balance in larger 400-liter barrels and one larger 2,500-liter oak vat. While the cooperage here is mostly French, they do include a touch of eastern European oak as well. Tasting like the 2016, only better, this beauty has gorgeous cassis, black cherry, and black raspberry fruit as well as plenty of ripe tobacco, green cedar, rosemary, damp earth, and spring flower-like aromas and flavors. As with the 2016, there's an herbal, subtly green undercurrent here (although it’s more mitigated here), but this is just pure, focused, and impeccably balanced, with beautiful fruit, gorgeous tannins, and an undeniable salinity on the finish. A brilliant wine, it has another 10-15 years of prime drinking. (3/2022)

This blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon offers a delicate nose of ripe plum, cumin, and dried herbs. Well balanced and elegant, it features juicy black-fruit flavors and hints of rosemary. A light note of chocolate adds complexity to the palate. Silky tannins and good acidity provide a good structure, suggesting the wine will age beautifully.

“Saved by the rains,” is how Lorenzo Pasquini describes the 2015 vintage of Cheval, as they delayed ripening in the grapes. It’s certainly a very elegant, refined red, blending Malbec with 28% Cabernet Sauvignon (there was no Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot this year). Lighter in texture than the 2014, but with similar granular tannins, this is a fresh, focused wine of high quality with minerality, stylish oak and considerable length. 2021-30