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Cheval des Andes 2021

A$229.00
AvailabilityIn stock
Volume750ml
Region/CountryArgentina, Mendoza
Rating97 points
Description

Cheval des Andes is the brainchild of Pierre Lurton from Cheval Blanc with the dream to follow the original Malbec vines from Bordeaux to Argentina. Malbec was brought to Argentina in the mid-19th century, and having avoided the phylloxera epidemic that swept through Europe, the ungrafted vines here represent a unique opportunity to express Malbec in a way not possible with the grafted vines found elsewhere. With this aim, Chateau Cheval Blanc started a joint venture with Terrazas de Los Andes in 1999 and Cheval des Andes was born. Since then, a predominantly Malbec, Bordeaux-style blend has become the signature of Cheval des Andes. The 2021 vintage is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot.

Cheval des Andes, the ‘Grand Cru’ of the Andes, is the fruit of a fusion between two cultures combining the vision and expertise of Château Cheval Blanc with high altitude wine-growing in the Mendoza region. Under hallenging climatic conditions, this is where Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot unite in a blend which is born at the foot of the Andes mountain range.

Ratings
Score98 points
ReviewerJeb Dunnuck
Review
The finest vintage of this wine I've tasted, the 2021 Cheval Des Andes is based on 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec, and the balance Petit Verdot. It has a decidedly Bordeaux-like nose of ripe currants, leafy tobacco, cedarwood, and a kiss of flowers, with perfectly integrated background oak. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It has this remarkable sense of purity and class, and while it's incredible today (especially with a decant), I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve gracefully for two decades. Drink 2024-2044.
Score98 points
ReviewerJames Suckling
Review
Complex aromas of blueberries, pie crust, fresh flowers and currant bush with hints of baking spices like nutmeg. Medium- to full-bodied with extremely fine tannins that are integrated and gorgeous. Graceful and refined, with super length. Interestingly, 20% of the wine was aged in large oak casks (2,500 liters), mostly from Slovenia. Try after 2027 but a joy to taste now.
Score97 points
ReviewerMatthew Luczy
Review
The 2021 Cheval des Andes is seductive and savory on the nose, leading with pure, earth-tinged aromas of pipe tobacco, turned soil, dried herbs and rich yet composed dark fruits. Exotic, dark spice notes and a pleasantly integrated framing of new oak accents appear with further aeration. The palate is deliciously supple and impressively layered, with a harmonious, long and ever-expanding finish that highlights extreme delicacy. The tannins are persistent yet composed, gently yet persistently lengthening the finish and melding nicely with the vibrant acidity underneath—a beautiful combination of savory charm, serious depth and focused intensity. It's a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec and 3% Petite Verdot that spent an average of 12-13 months in 50% barrique, 30% demi-muid and 20% foudre. Drink 2025-2033.
Score97 points
ReviewerJoaquin Hidalgo
Review
Light and elegant, the 2021 Cheval des Andes is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. It achieves a feat that only cool years can provide: smooth texture, agile palate and just the right amount of freshness for a nuanced build. As it breathes, it begins to reveal notes of fresh cherry and plum, with a hint of menthol, maraschino cherries and a touch of pepper. It opens further with aromas of sandalwood and oak that complete the framework. This is a somewhat leaner, more ethereal Cheval than other years, but it has a higher level of precision. It's a wine inspired by Bordeaux, executed in a Bordeaux style, with Mendoza terroir. A wine without edges, it’s a polished red in the early stages of a long, balanced life. Drink 2026-2040.
Specifications
ClosureCork
Serving temp14-18 °C
Alcohol14.1%
Cellar UntilUntil 2044
Food Pairing

BBQ, Borscht Cabbage Soup, Cured Meat, Duck breast, Hard Cheese, Red Meat, Risotto, Salted or Marinated Mushrooms, Steak, Veal roasted

Tasting Profile
nose

Cheval des Andes represents the essence of a fresh vintage in the Mendoza region. In the glass it presents a delicate and brilliant ruby red tone with garnet glints that add depth to the sight. On the nose, this wine offers a fine complexity. Initially, a fragrant blend of spices captivates the senses, gradually evolving into a rich and varied aromatic palette. Here, floral notes of jasmine, honeysuckle and violets intertwine with the freshness of red and forest fruits. Currants, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries emerge as protagonists, granting this bouquet of incomparable freshness.

palate

On the palate, this wine is distinguished by its elegance and delicacy, its acidity and freshness emerge as two of its most outstanding attributes. Its unique texture, characterized by silky tannins typical of a fine integration of wood, merge with a lingering finish that faithfully reflects the richness of its initial aromas.

Cheval des Andes 2021
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