Cheval des Andes
Mendoza Malbec Blend
Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG, blend of Malbec (70%) & Cab Sauv (30%), aged about 14 months in oak (50% new, 90% French), great vintage, cooler year, deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & complex floral spicy nose. On the palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & toasty oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish, almost creamy, ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age well.
JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG, blend of Malbec (70%) & Cab Sauv (30%), aged about 14 months in oak (50% new, 90% French), great vintage, cooler year, deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & complex floral spicy nose. On the palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & toasty oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish, almost creamy, ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age well.
Jul 9th, 2023
Popped and poured. The 2005 Cheval des Andes pours a deep opaque garnet/purple. Currently throwing some slight sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Lovely black and blue fruits, teriyaki, balsamic, purple flowers, leather, and baking spices. The same on the palate. In total balance. The finish is long, dry with integrated tannins and good acid still. Long. This is really in a gorgeous spot right now. My only bottle of this and so happy I enjoyed it when I did. Enjoy now or over the next 5-10. No decant necessary.
Popped and poured. The 2005 Cheval des Andes pours a deep opaque garnet/purple. Currently throwing some slight sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Lovely black and blue fruits, teriyaki, balsamic, purple flowers, leather, and baking spices. The same on the palate. In total balance. The finish is long, dry with integrated tannins and good acid still. Long. This is really in a gorgeous spot right now. My only bottle of this and so happy I enjoyed it when I did. Enjoy now or over the next 5-10. No decant necessary.
Jun 18th, 2022JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG, blend of Malbec (62%) & Cab Sauv (38%), aged 15 months in oak (50% new), riper fruit, slightly more alcohol than ‘16, deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & floral spice nose. On the palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age.
JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG, blend of Malbec (62%) & Cab Sauv (38%), aged 15 months in oak (50% new), riper fruit, slightly more alcohol than ‘16, deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & floral spice nose. On the palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age.
Feb 12th, 2022JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG. ‘14 has higher % of Malbec(83%) & more Petite Verdot(9%) than Cab Sauv,(8%), due to a rainy season challenging for Cab. Aged 15 months in oak (15% new), deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & floral spice nose. Palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age.
JV btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in ARG. ‘14 has higher % of Malbec(83%) & more Petite Verdot(9%) than Cab Sauv,(8%), due to a rainy season challenging for Cab. Aged 15 months in oak (15% new), deep Ruby, complex aromas of berry fruits & floral spice nose. Palate flavors, blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with spicy herb, cacao & smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit & oak. Will continue to age.
Aug 3rd, 2021Joint venture btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of legendary Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in Argentina. The ‘14 has a higher % of Malbec(83%) & more Petite Verdot(9%) than Cab Sauv,(8%), do to a rainy season that was challenging for Cab. Aged for 15 months in oak (15% new), medium Ruby with aromas of berry fruits and floral spice nose. On the palate flavors of blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with herb, cacao and smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit and oak spice. Nice!
Joint venture btw Ch Cheval Blanc & Terrazas De Los Andes, blend of legendary Bordeaux "First Growth" winemaking in Argentina. The ‘14 has a higher % of Malbec(83%) & more Petite Verdot(9%) than Cab Sauv,(8%), do to a rainy season that was challenging for Cab. Aged for 15 months in oak (15% new), medium Ruby with aromas of berry fruits and floral spice nose. On the palate flavors of blueberry and juicy blackberry fruit with herb, cacao and smoky oak. Fine soft tannins, well balanced, good acidity, long finish ending with fruit and oak spice. Nice!
Aug 8th, 2020
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
This was more powerful than the ‘07 out of the gate, and remained more dark fruit driven. Anise, saddle leather, muddled and stewed rhubarb, black cherry and blackberries. Dark cocoa dusted dates and charcoal. Drinking nicely now, and not getting better.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
This was more powerful than the ‘07 out of the gate, and remained more dark fruit driven. Anise, saddle leather, muddled and stewed rhubarb, black cherry and blackberries. Dark cocoa dusted dates and charcoal. Drinking nicely now, and not getting better.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
Initially, this was my least favorite wine of the night, but it surprised me at how the fruit came back front and center and retained juicy and tart notes! Strawberry, rhubarb, and blackberry tart. Secondary notes of tobacco and old fig. Holding nicely with air.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
Initially, this was my least favorite wine of the night, but it surprised me at how the fruit came back front and center and retained juicy and tart notes! Strawberry, rhubarb, and blackberry tart. Secondary notes of tobacco and old fig. Holding nicely with air.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
This contained the largest percentage of Malbec they’ve ever used at 83%, rounded out by petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Decidedly darker and more dense on the mid palate than the ‘15. The texture was more plush and this seems to be open for business now...not sure it has the structure to hold as long as the ‘15. More plum, added black currant and licorice.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
This contained the largest percentage of Malbec they’ve ever used at 83%, rounded out by petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Decidedly darker and more dense on the mid palate than the ‘15. The texture was more plush and this seems to be open for business now...not sure it has the structure to hold as long as the ‘15. More plum, added black currant and licorice.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
Even though it was the youngest vintage of the evening, the bones are here for this to be a long lived and beautiful wine. Described by them as a “classic vintage”, it also represents a style shift where they will focus only on blending Malbec and Cabernet (percentage will change each year), as opposed to being more Bordeaux in style with merlot and petit Verdot like previous vintages. Very clean. Super aromatic with ripe and sweet red and black fruit. No traces of licorice or squeezed fruit that Malbec can show. Very faint dark cocoa, cedar and herbal notes toward the back. Lovely.
Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).
Even though it was the youngest vintage of the evening, the bones are here for this to be a long lived and beautiful wine. Described by them as a “classic vintage”, it also represents a style shift where they will focus only on blending Malbec and Cabernet (percentage will change each year), as opposed to being more Bordeaux in style with merlot and petit Verdot like previous vintages. Very clean. Super aromatic with ripe and sweet red and black fruit. No traces of licorice or squeezed fruit that Malbec can show. Very faint dark cocoa, cedar and herbal notes toward the back. Lovely.