2022 Cheval des Andes Bordeaux Blend Mendoza

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 49% cabernet sauvignon (100% from Las Compuertas), 48% 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.