95 Robert Parker
The 2010 Cheval des Andes is produced with grapes grown at an old vineyard (planted in 1929) at Las Compuertas, in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza plus grapes from La Consulta in the Uco Valley. The blend changes with each vintage and in 2010 they had very good Petit Verdot so the percentage of it is higher than ever. It's a blend of 60% Malbec and 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The wine shows great integration of the oak, with notes of blackcurrant and spices (black pepper), showing restraint and incipient elegance along with underbrush and hints of truffles. I think I've never seen such an elegant Cheval des Andes. The palate reveals very good balance between power and elegance with ripe, fine-grained tannins, good length and freshness. Stronger balsamic notes emerge with time in the glass. This is one of the finest vintages of Cheval des Andes, challenged maybe... by 2011! Keep an eye open for these two vintages. 60,000 bottles produced.<br/>I met with Frenchmen Pierre Lurton and Pierre-Olivier Clouet, Director and Technical Director of Cheval Blanc and Cheval des Andes, to taste the latest release from Cheval des Andes, their Argentinean joint-venture with French group LVMH. I tasted 2010, 2011 and 2012, all bottled. The 2010 is in the market now, 2011 will be released more or less now and 2012 will be released in approximately 8-9 months as the quantities of 2011 are limited. The Cheval Blanc team is more and more involved in the winemaking now, and since 2010 they are in charge of viticulture and only use grapes for their own vineyards. The quantity of new oak has been reduced (50% for 2010, 45% in 2011 and 30% in 2012), and they are also experimenting with 500-liter barrels. They wines are becoming more precise, more balanced and elegant with more transparency to the vintage. I was impressed by the three wines I tasted and I already look forward to the 2013. Bravo!
95 Robert Parker
The 2010 Cheval des Andes is produced with grapes grown at an old vineyard (planted in 1929) at Las Compuertas, in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza plus grapes from La Consulta in the Uco Valley. The blend changes with each vintage and in 2010 they had very good Petit Verdot so the percentage of it is higher than ever. It's a blend of 60% Malbec and 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The wine shows great integration of the oak, with notes of blackcurrant and spices (black pepper), showing restraint and incipient elegance along with underbrush and hints of truffles. I think I've never seen such an elegant Cheval des Andes. The palate reveals very good balance between power and elegance with ripe, fine-grained tannins, good length and freshness. Stronger balsamic notes emerge with time in the glass. This is one of the finest vintages of Cheval des Andes, challenged maybe... by 2011! Keep an eye open for these two vintages. 60,000 bottles produced.<br/>I met with Frenchmen Pierre Lurton and Pierre-Olivier Clouet, Director and Technical Director of Cheval Blanc and Cheval des Andes, to taste the latest release from Cheval des Andes, their Argentinean joint-venture with French group LVMH. I tasted 2010, 2011 and 2012, all bottled. The 2010 is in the market now, 2011 will be released more or less now and 2012 will be released in approximately 8-9 months as the quantities of 2011 are limited. The Cheval Blanc team is more and more involved in the winemaking now, and since 2010 they are in charge of viticulture and only use grapes for their own vineyards. The quantity of new oak has been reduced (50% for 2010, 45% in 2011 and 30% in 2012), and they are also experimenting with 500-liter barrels. They wines are becoming more precise, more balanced and elegant with more transparency to the vintage. I was impressed by the three wines I tasted and I already look forward to the 2013. Bravo!
94 Wine Spectator
This is very structured and powerful with lots of firm tannins that are polished and pretty. It's full-bodied, with blackberry, dark chocolate and hints of hazelnut. 50% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20 petit verdot. Very Bordeaux. A wine for long-term aging but so beautiful now
94 Wine Spectator
This is very structured and powerful with lots of firm tannins that are polished and pretty. It's full-bodied, with blackberry, dark chocolate and hints of hazelnut. 50% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20 petit verdot. Very Bordeaux. A wine for long-term aging but so beautiful now
94 James Suckling
This is very structured and powerful with lots of firm tannins that are polished and pretty. It's full-bodied, with blackberry, dark chocolate and hints of hazelnut. 50% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20 petit verdot. Very Bordeaux. A wine for long-term aging but so beautiful now.
