The 2019 vintage returns to a 50/50 Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, showcasing a more structured and age-worthy wine. Crafted by French winemaker Gérald Gabillet, it presents aromas of red fruits, violets, and subtle oak notes, with a smooth yet structured palate. While still tight, it has excellent aging potential.

The Wine Advocate | RP 98
Published: Nov 30, 2022
Drink: 2023-2035

The 2019 Cheval des Andes has 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, which 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 suggestions from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet, who fermented by plot, isolating some specific parts of the vineyard, like the borders where you tend to get higher yields because of the irrigation. It matured in 225- and 400-liter oak barrels and in oak vats. They used more barrels and vats from Stockinger, which they like and rotate; the wine spends an average of 13 to 14 months in oak, but some lots get 11 months and others get 16. 2019 was a mild vintage, cooler than 2017 and warmer than 2018, with rain at the right time, which helped to avoid hydric stress, and without extremes (which they had in 2020 with three weeks of extreme heat). The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gabillet 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. In the following vintages, they follow this path, and Gabillet feels that having more precision allows the wines to reflect the differences between vintages better. They produce around 100,000 bottles. It was bottled in late January 2021. The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree.

I tasted the current release from Cheval des Andes a couple of months before I tasted most of the wines from Argentina, as this is sold through the Bordeaux négoce in early September every year and I already published this note, but I include it here for context and completeness of the article.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Apr 19, 2022

A refined but spicy Cheval, showing charcoal, blueberries, wild herbs, lavender and hints of bacon and cedar. Medium to full body with extremely fine tannins that get dialed into the fruit with violet, spices and sweet blue fruit at the end. Long and subtle. Drink or hold.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Aug 24, 2022
Drink: 2025-2045

Smooth and so seductive, I love the texture here, supple but silky. Tannis give structure and support and the focus is on perfumed red and black fruits with a richness and concentration yet liveliness from sharp acidity. It doesn't feel at all heavy but sintilates with fragrance and freshness. Easy to drink, lovely detail on show - blackcurrants, red cherries, violets with vanilla and liquorice hints. Very smooth and charming while still being a full wine. This has extreme delectability. Great winemaking on show.
Closure: Natural Cork
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Malbec

Chevaldesandes.com 

A ‘Grand Cru’ from Argentina’, Cheval des Andes was born from the meeting of two cultures. It combines the vision and expertise of Château Cheval Blanc with high altitude viticulture in the Mendoza region where Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon grow in challenging conditions in the foothills of the Andes mountains.

Climatic conditions
The 2019 harvest was first characterized by some rainy episodes during spring while early summer was marked by 3 heat waves during which the water management of the vineyard was of the utmost importance. Fortunately, the cycle continued with dry weather and good thermal amplitude which resulted in a high quality harvest.

Tasting notes
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.

Blend: Malbec  50 % Cabernet Sauvignon  50 %