Name: 2022 Cheval Des Andes Mendoza Argentina
Brand: Cheval des Andes
SKU: CDAMA22
Price: 119.00 USD
Availability: InStock

2022 Cheval de Andes wine bottle with a white background.

Mendoza, AR Cheval des Andes Cabernet Sauvignon

2022 Cheval Des Andes Mendoza Argentina

$150.00 $119.00

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Born from 1929 Old-Vine Malbec
"An Exceptionally Beautiful Wine" ~ 99 Vinous Media
Crafted from the Grand Cru of the Andes
"A Juicy Backbone, and a Solid and Flavorful Finish" ~ 98 James Suckling
From Mendoza’s Most Historic Vineyards
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About the Wine

When Pierre Lurton first encountered the historic Malbec vineyard of Las Compuertas—planted in 1929 on the high terraces of Mendoza—he was immediately captivated, declaring, “This will be a journey back to the roots of Bordeaux.” Inspired by this connection, he set out to revive the spirit of yesterday’s great Bordeaux wines while linking Château Cheval Blanc to the heritage of Saint-Émilion.

In 1999, Château Cheval Blanc joined forces with Terrazas de los Andes, and Cheval des Andes was born. Since then, the estate has become known for its predominantly Malbec-driven, Bordeaux-style blend—now the unmistakable signature of the project. Often described as the “Grand Cru of the Andes,” Cheval des Andes fuses French expertise with high-altitude viticulture in Mendoza, where Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon thrive at the foot of the Andes Mountains under demanding climatic conditions.

Grapes are hand-harvested into 20-kg boxes and transported in refrigerated trucks to preserve freshness. At the winery, each parcel is meticulously sorted and vinified separately under the guiding principle of “one parcel, one tank”—using small 30–80 hl vessels to honor the identity of each site. Vinification follows a philosophy of minimal intervention, and aging takes place in a combination of 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels, and 25% large 2,500-liter vessels, with 50% new oak.

Tasting Notes

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.

A vibrant, expressive nose of red and black fruit, showcasing layers of raspberry, blueberry, black cherry, and plum. Subtle herbal tones of bay leaf, mint, and fresh tobacco add lift and complexity.

On the palate, the wine is silky and concentrated, with a refined core of juicy dark fruit supported by polished, fine-grained tannins. Notes of cassis, dried herbs, cacao, and a hint of graphite echo the blend’s Bordeaux DNA, while the Malbec brings plushness and aromatic lift.

The texture is creamy yet structured, showing both elegance and depth. The finish is long, energetic, and beautifully balanced, with lingering impressions of dark fruit, spice, and minerality.

Critical Reviews

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 Fasltaff

Aromas 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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Food Pairing

Beef

Venison

Steak

Lamb

Chicken

Mouthfeel & Acidity

Wine characteristics including body, acidity levels, tannin structure, and sweetness profile.

Light Body Full Body

Low Acidity High Acidity

Soft Tannins Firm Tannins

Dry Sweet

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ABOUT THE WINERY

Cheval des Andes

Mendoza, Argentina

Cheval des Andes is a unique Franco-Argentine partnership born in 1999 between Château Cheval Blanc, one of Bordeaux’s most legendary estates, and Terrazas de los Andes, a pioneer of high-altitude viticulture in Mendoza.

The vision was to craft a “Grand Cru of the Andes,” blending Malbec from historic 1920s vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style precision. Today, Cheval des Andes stands at the crossroads of two worlds—French elegance and Argentine mountain intensity—producing refined, age-worthy wines that honor both Saint-Émilion heritage and the dramatic terroirs at the foot of the Andes.

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