Cheval des Andes 2021 (750ml)
Product price
Description
Cheval des Andes 2021 is a Bordeaux blend from Mendoza, Argentina, built on nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec with a small addition of Petit Verdot. The fruit originates from established vineyards in Las Compuertas and newer plantings in the Uco Valley, aged across a mix of French barrique, demi-muid, and large Slovenian foudre casks.
This is a wine that balances restraint with depth. The aromatics lean toward dark fruit (blueberry, blackberry, currant) layered with floral notes, mint, and subtle spice from the oak, while a savory undercurrent of dried herbs, pipe tobacco, and earth adds complexity. On the palate, the wine unfolds with silky, fine-grained tannins that are fully integrated, polished rather than grippy, and a vibrant freshness that keeps everything moving toward a long, nuanced finish. There's an elegance here that doesn't depend on weight; instead, the wine is juicy and enveloping, with a careful composure that rewards attention. It drinks beautifully now, though it will continue to develop and deepen with a few years in the cellar.
Expert Reviews
Since Gerald Gabillet's arrival in Mendoza in 2018, Cheval des Andes wines have gained in elegance and precision. In a great vintage like 2021, the results are spellbinding. Near-equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, with 3% Petit Verdot; the fruit comes from an old vineyard in Las Compuertas and a newer property in the Uco Valley. A fruity, floral wine, with minty hints and a subtle layer of oak that contributes spice and cedar notes. The palate is silky and energetic, with a vibrant freshness and polished, grippy tannins that channel it nicely into the long, perfumed finish. (AG)
Complex aromas of blueberries, pie crust, fresh flowers and currant bush with hints of baking spices like nutmeg. Medium- to full-bodied with extremely fine tannins that are integrated and gorgeous. Graceful and refined, with super length. Interestingly, 20% of the wine was aged in large oak casks (2,500 liters), mostly from Slovenia. Try after 2027 but a joy to taste now.
A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon from Altamira, 48% Malbec from Altamira and Las Compuertas and 3% Petit Verdot from Las Compuertas, the 2021 Cheval des Andes showcases a blend in peak form, both in terms of varieties and origins, all from Mendoza. In many ways, 2021 was a Bordeaux-like year for a region as dry and sunny as Mendoza. The wine reflects this, offering delicate cherry and blackberry fruit along with a touch of wild herbs, layered with hints of ash and orange petit-fours. Dry, with fine-grained, lightly reactive tannins, the palate is juicy and enveloping. Though leaner than in previous years, it remains equally refined. Long and nuanced, this is such an elegant wine. (JH)