2022 Cheval Des Andes Mendoza Argentina

The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aging was carried out in 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels, and 25% 2,500-liter foudres, with 50% new oak. A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry, and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine. ~ 99 Vinous Media

Dark ruby in colour with purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. Delicately smoky on the nose with tobacco notes, black cherry, inviting ripe plum, a hint of fig, some nougat, and orange zest. The palate is complex and tightly woven with ripe tannins, fine acidity and a core of fine fruit, redolent of cherry and blackberry, mineral, and very persistent, very promising. Great. ~ 98 FasltaffAromas of dark currants, spices, cloves, and a touch of elderberries. The palate is elegant and medium- to full-bodied with polished, precise tannins, firm fruit, a juicy backbone, and a solid and flavorful finish. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot from Lujan and Altamira. Drink from 2027. ~ 98 James Suckling

Fragrant, exceptional quality,a standout in the lineup. Concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, nuanced pulses of orange peel and pomegranate, gunsmoke and peony flowers. Gérald Gabillet, winemaker, at this joint venture between Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. Fermented and aged in a mix of 225l barrels, 400l barrels and 2,500l casks, 50% new oak – almost entirely French, with some Austrian, Slovenian and German. ~ 98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Cheval des Andes is the joint venture between Terrazas de Los Andes (Möet Hennessy) and Cheval Blanc of Saint-Émilion. It debuted in Argentina with the 1999 vintage, and today Cheval has 32 hectares of very old vineyards in Las Compuertas, near the highest areas of the traditional Luján de Cuyo DOC, and 15 hectares of younger vines in Altamira, in the Uco Valley, at the foot of the Andes, for a total of 39 hectares in production with the material they use to make this red wine, which is the only one the winery produces, although there are plans for a second wine. This year, the blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon (100% from Las Compuertas), 30% Malbec (half Altamira and half Las Compuertas), and the rest is Petit Verdot from Las Compuertas. Since the 2015 vintage, we at Descorchados have noticed that Cheval has been shifting toward greater freshness and a less invasive oak treatment. This year, for example, there is an emphasis on larger formats. 60% of the wine was aged either in 400-liter barrels or in 2,500-liter foudres, leaving the traditional 225-liter Bordeaux barrels for a third of the total that spends time in oak. These larger formats with two or more uses, imply less effect on the aromas, although they do have an effect on the oxygenation of the wine. The result, in a cold year like 2021, is one of the fruitiest and most delicate Chevals we can remember. Take a look at the nose, which is pure fruit. The Malbec dominates, but the Cabernet contributes soft herbal notes. ~ 98 Descochados

Soon to be released through La Place de Bordeaux, the 2022 Cheval des Andes opens with an exotic, spice-driven bouquet, supplemented by lifted herbal notes and a vibrantly red-fruited and perfumed backdrop. The palate is similarly energetic, melding an elegantly rich, polished texture with a slender, tensile energy. It concludes with a long, persistent and high-toned finish that gradually unfurls a sturdy structure of supremely refined tannins. This is an excellent counterpoint to the comparatively darker and more open-knit 2021, showcasing a brighter, more tenacious profile while sacrificing none of the grace, nuance and textural attention to detail that has come to define Cheval des Andes. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. ~ 97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Served blind, I'd think this was a top Hermitage due to its smoky character, topped with mint, peppery herbs, barbecued meat, black currants, blackberries, along with a hint of blueberry. The palate is rich, full-bodied, long, fresh, and vibrant, with energetic notes of mint leaf, black cherries, cocoa, chalk, and a range of exotic spices that linger. The wine is produced from blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% old vine Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2045. ~ 97 The Wine Cellar Insider

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