Cheval des Andes - Mendoza 2020

Cheval des Andes, the "grand cru" of the Andes

Cheval des Andes, is the fruit of a fusion between two cultures combining the vision and expertise of Château Cheval Blanc with high altitude wine-growing in the Mendoza region. Under challenging climatic conditions, this is where Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon unite in a blend which is born at the foot of the Andes mountain range.

Conceived in 1999, this vision of wine growing is completely unusual as it combines two very different "terroirs" such us Las Compuertas in Lujan de Cuyo and Paraje Altamira in Uco Valley, coupled with two legendary grape varieties and a desire to create complexity out of diversity. Today, the vision of committed viticulturists has been achieved through twenty years of daily care in these unique vineyards which now produce a genuine "grand cru" of the Andes. As the vision is accomplished, the edges are polished; freshness, balance and complexity become the cornerstones of Cheval des Andes.

The 2020 vintage

Weather conditions

Tasting notes

Decanter.com

byGeorgina Hindlethe9/4/2023

This almost half-half Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec with 2% Petit Verdot is rich and full in the mouth. Tannins are massy and filling, this has power and dominance with concentrated blackcurrant, plum and black cherry fruit. Highly spiced and sunkissed, this is intense and quite a force on the palate with liquorice, black pepper and tobacco tones and a flinty mineral aspect on the finish. The alcohol sticks out a touch, just lingering with heat at the end, but it has freshness and matches the altogether hefty frame and power from start to finish. Certainly a punchy and confident wine that's out to shine. 3.83pH. Ageing 22 months, 40% in 225l Bordeaux barrels, 405 in 400l barrels, 20% in 2,500l foudres (50% new).

Wine Advocate

byLuis Gutierrezthe8/31/2023

The 2020 Cheval des Andes was harvested from the last of February for the first time ever. It was Gabillet's second vintage at Cheval des Andes, and that year, he had to start without waiting for Pierre Olivier Clouet and Pierre Lurton from Cheval Blanc; when they arrived, they had finished picking the Malbec, which surprisingly was fresher in Las Compuertas (because of the higher percentage of clay?) than in Altamira (where the vines suffered more stress), saving the freshness. They now harvest using cold trucks (for the first time), and they also started earlier in the morning (six in the morning, impossible earlier in Mendoza...), which he reckons was very good for the precision of the wine. They used 40% 225-liter barrels, 40% 400-liter oak barrels and 20% 2,500-liter foudres, half of them new and with an élevage of 15 months on average, depending on the lots and varieties from 12 to 18 months. The final blend was 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, which makes a comeback as it was not used since 2016. The key was to finish the fermentation of the Petit Verdot without skins, and that way, they have been able to use it in the blends of 2021, 2022 and 2023 in small but increasing percentages. This is slightly riper than 2019, with a little more alcohol (14.5%) and with very good structural tannins but saving the freshness, and it has the spicy side from the Petit Verdot (Gabillet talks about white pepper). The wine has the ultra sleek and polished texture and the elegance and the balance that is the signature here; the wine is very clean and precise. I see very good regularity across the three vintages I tasted next to each other—this 2020 and the 2018 and 2019. Overall, this is a triumph over the adverse conditions of the vintage. They produced their usual 100,000 bottles (since 2018), as they are renewing their vineyards and want to keep the volume stable. They produce this volume from the 36 productive hectares they have in Las Compuertas and Altamira. There are some more changes: in 2020, they went for a lighter bottle, weighing 100 grams less than the one they used in 2018 and 2019, but close to 300 grams less than the bottle from before. It's also a slimmer bottle, always thinking about the environment. They are very focused on agroecology, accelerating the regenerative viticulture and using cover crops; they have planted 1,900 trees in the last three years, creating small clusters of biodiversity for birds. They have transplanted some centenary olive trees and keep their sheep and lamas on the property. Very green-minded.

The Wine Independent

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe8/21/2023

The 2020 Cheval des Andes is made from 49% Malbec, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it starts off a little broody with tar and black olives notes giving way to a core of plum preserves, stewed black cherries, and mulberries, with wafts of garrigue and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves with a solid frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a spicy lift. This estate is a joint venture between Chateau Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de Los Andes.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

byJane Ansonthe7/3/2023

Crushed raspberry plum in colour, vibrant and concentrated, juicy and balanced, has precision and succulence and carefully thought out delivery of tannins, grilled spices, nutmeg, liqourice, bilberry, damson and pomegrante. Great stuff, playing at a high level. Gérald Gabillet winemaker and director, LVMH owners.

Alexandre Ma

byAlexandre Mathe7/1/2023

Similar to the vintage of 2019, 2020 also carries a noticeable reductive note. Set it aside for about 10 minutes, and you’ll witness a gradual unfurling of layers of blueberries and raspberries, accompanied by a delicate hint of roasted hazelnuts. These fragrances gently blanket the entire lake; as the acidity ripples across your palate, they create a serene symphony. When I tasted the 2019 vintage last year, I wasn’t entirely sure about the path Cheval des Andes was aiming to tread. However, the “exquisite” nature of 2020 vintage has solidified my belief that this wine remains a noteworthy gem from Mendoza that continues to elicit our anticipation.

Vinous

byJoaquin Hidalgothe6/1/2023

The 2020 Cheval des Andes is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley and Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo. Aged in French oak barrels, it's purple in the glass with a garnet sheen. The nose reveals a well-judged approach to the warmth of 2020, featuring ripe plum, redcurrant, mint and hints of white pepper over a bed of bay leaf and cedar. It's dry and velvety on the palate, with rich, polished tannins that deliver a juicy, balanced mouthfeel. The balsamic notes and rich palate reflect the year's character, while the finish is dynamic and long-lasting.

Jamessuckling.com

byJames Sucklingthe3/4/2023

Ripe, baked dark cherries with spices and some violets. Hints of graphite, cocoa powder, incense and black pepper. Dried rose petals. A slightly fuller Cheval des Andes with tense, silky tannins and a lingering, generous finish. Ripe, but still has lots of restraint and precision. 49% malbec, 49% cabernet sauvignon with a 2% petit verdot. 24% of the malbec comes from Altamira and all the rest of the fruit come from Las Compuertas. Drink or hold.

Information:	Details:
Couleur	Rouge
Cépages	Cabernet Sauvignon 49 % Petit Verdot 2 % Malbec 49 %
Appellation	Mendoza
Millesime	2020
Contenance	Double Magnum (3 l)

Information:

Details:

Couleur

Rouge

Cépages

Cabernet Sauvignon 49 %
Petit Verdot 2 %
Malbec 49 %

Appellation

Mendoza

Millesime

2020

Contenance

Double Magnum (3 l)

Un repas	Autour du repas
Un cadeau	Faire une découverte !

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Cheval des Andes - Mendoza 2020

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