Cheval des Andes 2021

Critic scores

• James Suckling98
• Vinous98
• Jeb Dunnuck98
• Decanter98
• Wine Advocate97
• Wine Spectator94

The 2021 vintage in Mendoza

Vintage benchmark: 96/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: A cool, wet season, with summer rainfall twice that of the previous vintage, gave wines of great aromatic complexity, carried by their natural freshness.

Overall reading of the year’s season across Mendoza. An estate can depart from it sharply, in frost or hail years, where two neighbours did not make the same vintage. What this particular wine actually gave is on its technical sheet and in the scores above.

Tasting

Cheval des Andes symbolizes the essence of a fresh harvest in the Mendoza region. In the glass it presents itself with a delicate and brilliant ruby red hue with garnet highlights that add depth to the view. At first nose, this wine offers us a fine complexity. Initially, a fragrant blend of spices captures the senses, gradually evolving into a rich and varied aromatic palette. At this point, the floral notes of jasmine, honeysuckle and violets mingle with the freshness of red fruits and wild berries. Currants, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries stand out as protagonists, giving this bouquet an incomparable freshness. On the palate, this wine stands out for its elegance and delicacy. Its acidity and freshness stand out as two of its most remarkable attributes. Its unique texture, characterized by silky tannins resulting from a fine integration of the wood, merges with a long finish which faithfully reflects the richness of its initial aromas.

Blend of the 2021 vintage

Winemaking

The grapes were transported in 20 kg boxes by refrigerated trucks to the winery where they were meticulously sorted by hand. Our work in the cellar respects the origin of each plot by following the principle “one plot, one vat”. These have a capacity of 30 to 80 hl. Then, the winemaking process takes place with as little intervention as possible.

Ageing

The ageing was carried out 40% in 225 liter Bordeaux barrels, 30% in 400 liter barrels and the remaining 30% in 2500 liter barrels, 50% of which were in new oak. For the 2021 vintage, our barrel room was made up of 85% French oak and 15% a mix of Austrian, Slovenian and German oak.