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 challenging climatic conditions, this is where Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon unite in a blend which is born at the foot of the Andes mountain range.

The 2018 season was an excellent one for Argentine wine. Especially when you take the previous two years into account. In Mendoza it was agreed to be ‘a typical year’: the winter was very cold and the spring dry but cool, delaying budding and holding the overall cycle back by about 15 days. Temperatures in January and February were in line with historical averages, while rainfall was lower than usual, favoring the harvest, whose yields came close to historical records.

The clusters were transported to the winery in trucks equipped with thermal blankets, and classified manually. Our work in the winery is based on a respectful intervention, caring for the origin of each plot under the concept “one plot, one tank”. For this harvest, the barrel room was made up of 80% French oak and 20% of a blend of Austrian, Slovenian and German oak. Maturation was carried out 40% in 225-liter barrels, 40% in 400-liter barrels and 20% in 2,500-liter foudres, 50% of which were new oak.

At first glance, the wine is brilliant, with an intense ruby red color with garnet hues. The nose is filled with intense notes of fresh red fruits such as cherries, currants and plums with touches of herbs and flowers that remind us of violets and lavender. Little by little, subtle spicy notes with hints of vanilla, cedar and liquorice develop from the elegant integration with the oak. Refreshingly smooth on the palate, with great personality, elegant tannins and a sharp and balanced acidity. Cheval des Andes 2019 invites us to enjoy its freshness and complex youth and also to discover it over the years.