Dear *|FNAME|*,

The new vintage of one of Argentina’s finest wines is here, and it’s super-smart. Cheval des Andes 2019 is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon this vintage. It’s beautifully balanced, rich, refined and elegant with spicy cedar and violet notes and great structure afforded by the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Such texture and energy! ‘The feel is finely grained with a leaner, more agile flow than in previous years,’ says Joaquin Hildago of Vinous.

Started in 1999, Cheval des Andes is a collaboration between the famed Bordeaux Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes, a pioneer of cool climate, high-altitude winemaking in Argentina. It’s essentially the Grand Cru of the Andes. After discovering the Las Compuertas vineyard – a site in Menodoza planted with ungrafted Malbec in 1929 – Pierre Lurton envisioned ‘a journey to the roots of Bordeaux’ (quite literally). The aim has always been to bring yesteryear’s Bordeaux wines back to life – when Malbec played a bigger role and was ungrafted (pre-phylloxera). The 2019 is a resounding success at this high-altitude address and an excellent buy. Magnums are also available for the first time!

Since its inception in 1999 and first vintage in 2001, the team have played around with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to find the perfect balance. With the 2019 vintage, this has culminated in the first ever 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes hail from two vineyards at 1 100m, Las Compuertas (a ‘jewel’ in Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira – ‘two of the most prestigious winegrowing regions of Mendoza’, says Decanter. It’s the perfect philosophical blend from the minds of Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes, promising a long life ahead.

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Tasting notes

Cheval des Andes Mendoza 2019

'The 2019 Cheval des Andes had a more reductive vinification and élevage, making the wine a bit shy and in need of time to open up, as one of their objectives was to make it more age-worthy. Another objective is to get to a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which they achieved in this vintage for the first time, going back to the initial character of the wine that was the idea of Argentinean winemaker Roberto de la Mota; so, they are closing the circle and going back to the initial idea, with more implication from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet,....The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gerald attributed to the reductiveness; it's ripe without excess, with around 14.2% alcohol, mellow acidity and velvety tannins. There's more Cabernet here, so the aromatic expression can be something between 2017 and 2018, but Cabernet marks the palate a lot and makes the wine more age-worthy, as it provides the structure and length that the Malbec lacks. So, the wine might be less accessible when young and should develop slowly in bottle. It's tasty and supple and has the ingredients and the balance for what they are aiming for. ….The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree.' – Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, 98/100

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