2021 Cheval des Andes, Mendoza, Argentina

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Description

The 2021 Cheval des Andes is a perfect example of how this estate continues to evolve and craft beautiful wines, especially in these cooler ‘classic’ vintages. There’s a great deal of elegance in the 2021 vintage which shines bright when tasted alongside the 2018 and ‘19 vintages. Layers of delicious sweet blueberry and spice on the front of the palate is followed by a fresh lengthy finish, easily of the finest Mendoza’s I’ve tasted on release. Without question this a wine that should be within your cellar, especially if you’re yet to have explored this glorious estate.

Cameron Gates, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Colour Red

Sweetness Dry

Vintage 2021

Alcohol % 14%

Maturity Not ready (2026 - 2041)

Grape List Cabernet Sauvignon (49%), Malbec (48%), Petit Verdot (3%)

Body Medium Bodied

Producer Cheval des Andes

Critics reviews

Jane Anson MW 97/100

A wonderful Cheval des Andes, luscious, layered, nuanced, a kick of nutmeg spice, blueberry and damson fruits, salted cracker mouthwatering finish, with deftly-handled freshness the signature of a cooler vintage. Gérald Gabillet winemaker, joint venture between Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. 70% new oak for ageing.

Drink 2026 - 2042

Jane Anson MW, JaneAnson.com (Jul 2024)

Joaquín Hidalgo 97/100

Light and elegant, the 2021 Cheval des Andes is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. It achieves a feat that only cool years can provide: smooth texture, agile palate and just the right amount of freshness for a nuanced build. As it breathes, it begins to reveal notes of fresh cherry and plum, with a hint of menthol, maraschino cherries and a touch of pepper. It opens further with aromas of sandalwood and oak that complete the framework. This is a somewhat leaner, more ethereal Cheval than other years, but it has a higher level of precision. It's a wine inspired by Bordeaux, executed in a Bordeaux style, with Mendoza terroir. A wine without edges, it’s a polished red in the early stages of a long, balanced life.

Drink 2026 - 2040

Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous.com (May 2024)

Jeb Dunnuck 98/100

The finest vintage of this wine I've tasted, the 2021 Cheval Des Andes is based on 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Malbec, and the balance Petit Verdot. It has a decidedly Bordeaux-like nose of ripe currants, leafy tobacco, cedarwood, and a kiss of flowers, with perfectly integrated background oak. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It has this remarkable sense of purity and class, and while it's incredible today especially with a decant), I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve gracefully for two decades.

Drink 2024 - 2044

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (Aug 2024)

James Suckling 98/100

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.

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (May 2024)

About this wine

Mendoza

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Andes, Mendoza is Argentina’s premier wine region, producing 70% of the country’s wine across 146,000 hectares of sun-drenched vineyards. Celebrated for its signature Malbec and a wealth of Old World varietals, Mendoza offers accessible wines and world-class bottlings that rival the best of the globe. From velvety reds to crisp, high-altitude whites, the region is a playground for wine lovers seeking bold, expressive flavours.

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