Cheval des Andes Cheval des Andes 2019

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Cheval des Andes
Cheval des Andes 2019

Vintage : 2019
Country : Argentina
Region : Mendoza
Subregion :
Type : Red
Style : Rich and Spicy
Format : 75cl
Alcohol : 14,2°
Grappes : 69% Malbec, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot

A Grand Cru of the Andes, this wine is a seamless fusion of Bordeaux expertise from Château Cheval Blanc and the unique high-altitude terroir of Mendoza.

Experts		Score	Vintage
RP	Robert Parker	98	2019
VN	Vinous (Antonio Galloni)	97	2019
JS	James Suckling	97	2019
WS	Wine Spectator	93	2019
DCT	Decanter	96	2018
JD	Jeb Dunnuck	95	2018
WE	Wine Enthusiast	95	2018
TA	Tim Atkin	96	2015

More information on wine critics and ratings

Tasting Note (PDF)

Description
Video
Reviews

Region and Vineyards

Cheval des Andes is crafted from two exceptional vineyard sites in Mendoza, Argentina: Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo and Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. These vineyards, located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, benefit from high-altitude conditions that shape the wine’s structure and elegance.

The vineyards experience warm days and cool nights, allowing for slow ripening, preserving acidity, and enhancing aromatic complexity. The well-drained, alluvial soils, rich in sand, silt, and limestone, naturally limit vine vigor, leading to concentrated and expressive fruit. The 2019 vintage saw a mix of spring rains and summer heat waves, requiring careful water management. However, the season ended with dry weather and significant diurnal shifts, ensuring a harvest of exceptional quality.

Winemaking

Cheval des Andes follows a "one plot, one tank" approach, vinifying each parcel separately to preserve its unique character. The grapes were manually sorted and transported under temperature-controlled conditions to maintain freshness and purity.

The wine was aged in a mix of oak formats, including 225-liter barrels (40%), 400-liter barrels (40%), and 2,500-liter foudres (20%). The oak selection included 80% French and 20% Austrian, Slovenian, and German oak, with 50% new barrels. This aging process enhances the wine’s texture while allowing the fruit and terroir to remain at the forefront.

Tasting Notes

Color: Brilliant ruby red with garnet reflections.
Aroma: A vibrant bouquet of cherries, currants, and plums, intertwined with violets, lavender, and fresh herbs. Subtle notes of spice, vanilla, cedar, and licorice emerge with air, reflecting the refined oak integration.
Palate: Smooth and refreshing, with silky tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, elegant finish. The youthful complexity suggests great aging potential.

Did You Know?

Cheval des Andes is a collaboration between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes, merging Bordeaux tradition with Argentine high-altitude viticulture. Often referred to as the "Grand Cru of the Andes," it is one of Argentina’s most refined and structured wines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

Grilled beef tenderloin with rosemary and black pepper – The wine’s structure and acidity complement the richness of the meat.
Duck breast with cherry reduction – The red fruit aromas and velvety tannins enhance the dish’s depth.
Aged Comté or Gruyère – The balance of fruit and oak pairs well with the nutty complexity of these cheeses.
Porcini mushroom risotto – The wine’s earthiness and acidity elevate the umami flavors of the dish.

Robert Parker (RP) : 98 Points (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)

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 97 Points (2019)

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)

James Suckling (JS) : 97 Points (2019)

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)

Wine Spectator (WS) : 93 Points (2019)

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.

Decanter (DCT) : 96 Points (2018)

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)

Jeb Dunnuck (JD) : 95 Points (2018)

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)

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 95 Points (2018)

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.

Tim Atkin (TA) : 96 Points (2015)

“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