Cheval des Andes 2023

Cheval des Andes 2023: Characteristics and Tasting Notes

Tasting

Appearance
The colour reveals a violet hue of great depth, its heart taking on almost black glints that testify to a beautiful concentration.

Nose
Elegant and complex, the aromatic bouquet opens with intense notes of well-ripened black fruits such as blackberry, raspberry, plum and black cherry. Subtle touches of blackcurrant jelly, liquorice and rose petals add further richness, underscored by a delicate oakiness with hints of cocoa and sweet spices.

Palate
The attack reveals a perfectly structured and balanced wine, supported by ripe tannins and a very juicy fruit character. The moderate acidity brings lovely freshness and length. The persistent, deep finish stands out with a delicate mineral and bloody touch.

Food and Wine Pairing
This great red wine will pair wonderfully with grilled or roasted red meats, such as a fine cut of Argentine beef, a rib of beef or a hanger steak. It will also beautifully complement confit lamb or game-based dishes such as venison or wild boar.

Serving and Ageing
With its solid structure, this wine has excellent ageing potential. When stored under good conditions, it can be enjoyed until around 2043.

A "Grand Cru of the Andes" Combining Bordeaux Elegance with Mendoza's High-Altitude Terroir

The Estate
Born in 1999, the Cheval des Andes brand is the result of a prestigious alliance between Cheval Blanc & Terrazas de Los Andes. Located in the Mendoza region of Argentina, this exceptional estate belongs to the LVMH group. Technically directed by Pierre Polbos, it spans around fifty hectares. The estate stands out through its ambition to create a great Andean cru, blending Bordeaux blending expertise with the unique expression of high-altitude terroirs, all while making a strong commitment to agroecology.

The Vineyard
The estate relies on two exceptional terroirs located in the province of Mendoza. At Las Compuertas, ungrafted Malbec vines, planted in 1929, thrive at 1,070 metres above sea level on silty, gravelly soils resting on limestone. At Paraje Altamira, the plots reach up to 1,150 metres on sandier soils. The vineyard is managed according to highly advanced agroecological and agroforestry principles: fruit tree planting, diversified cover crops, the installation of beehives and ultra-precise drip irrigation management to preserve biodiversity.

Winemaking and Ageing
To craft this 2023 vintage, the technical teams favour a meticulous ageing process. The wine rests in a combination of 225-litre barrels, 400-litre casks and large 2,500-litre foudres. This method allows for perfect control of micro-oxygenation while preserving the vibrancy of the fruit, thus avoiding an overly pronounced oaky character.

Grape Varieties
57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot.