Cheval des Andes 2018 - Terrazas de Los Andes (magnum, 1.5 L)

Cheval des Andes 2018 — Terrazas de los Andes

This Cheval des Andes 2018, born from the alliance between the Bordeaux elegance of Cheval Blanc and the great high-altitude terroirs of Terrazas de los Andes, offered here in magnum 1.5 L, embodies one of Argentina’s most prestigious, profound and refined expressions. Born in Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes, this wine combines altitude freshness, the nobility of Malbec, the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-inspired precision: cassis, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, black cherry, violet, cedar, graphite, cocoa, blond tobacco, liquorice, sweet spices, black mint, noble earth and a long mineral finish.

Cheval des Andes holds a unique place among South America’s great wines, bringing together Argentina’s wine heritage and the exacting standards of a great Bordeaux cru. The 2018 vintage, balanced, fresh and precise in Mendoza, gives here a wine of great harmony, where fruit maturity remains carried by elegant tension, polished tannins and remarkable length. The magnum format encourages slower evolution, better preservation of freshness and a particularly sought-after collector dimension.

Terroir: Mendoza, altitude, Andean light and Bordeaux precision

The vineyards of Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes, benefit from intense luminosity, strong diurnal temperature variation and high-altitude conditions that favour full fruit ripeness while preserving freshness, tension and aromatic precision. The alluvial, stony and well-drained soils bring structure, minerality and depth to Argentina’s great red wines.

Cheval des Andes is distinguished by its balance between Andean power and Bordeaux refinement. Malbec brings flesh, black fruit, violet and velvety texture, while Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure, cedar, graphite and ageing capacity. In 2018, the freshness of the vintage reinforces the wine’s elegance, precision and length.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep purple slowly evolving towards garnet, dense, bright and still very sustained. In magnum, evolution is generally slower, allowing the wine to preserve brilliance, depth and visual freshness for many years.

Nose: deep, pure and highly expressive, with cassis, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, black cherry, ripe black fruits, violet, cedar, graphite, cocoa, blond tobacco, liquorice and sweet spices. With aeration, nuances of black mint, mocha, precious woods, fine leather, noble earth, sweet pepper, dried herbs and light truffle may appear.

Palate: broad, dense, velvety and elegantly structured, with generous black fruit carried by very well-integrated altitude freshness. Flavours of cassis, blackberry, blueberry, plum, black cherry, cedar, graphite, cocoa, tobacco, liquorice and spices unfold with depth, supported by ripe, fine and polished tannins. The finish is long, fresh, lightly saline and mineral, with an impression of controlled power, finesse and great persistence.

Expression of the 2018 vintage

The 2018 vintage in Mendoza produced wines that are balanced, fresh and precise, often marked by fine fruit purity, refined tannins and an expression that is more elegant than massive. For Cheval des Andes, this year highlights altitude tension, the depth of Malbec and the refined structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today, this Cheval des Andes 2018 in magnum remains young in its evolution, but it can already impress through its depth, balance and precision after careful aeration. With time, it will gain complexity around notes of fine leather, tobacco, cocoa, cedar, graphite, truffle, melted spices, dried herbs and noble earth, while preserving altitude freshness and the depth of black fruit.