La Place de Bordeaux Autumn Offers: 2020 Cheval des Andes (98 pts, WA) £402 per six in bond
"...the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc." - Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
The Autumn Offers from La Place de Bordeaux continue this morning with Château Cheval Blanc's Argentian collaboration, Cheval des Andes. Other top 'crus' from South America can boast impressive links to Bordeaux estates, but none as close as this. Tasting previous vintages, we have been struck by how reminiscent Cheval des Andes' texture is of its French cousin. If you own (or have aspirations to own) wines from Cheval Blanc itself, this will make a fascinating comparison. This new release scores 98 points from The Wine Advocate and is offered at £402 per six bottles in bond.
Cheval des Andes was established by Cheval Blanc's General Manager Pierre Lurton in 1999, inspired by the performance of Malbec in Mendoza, with its historic links to Bordeaux. Lurton saw the potential to re-connect with the roots of St.-Emilion, which in pre-phylloxera times saw up to 50% of Malbec in some right bank blends.
The 2021 Cheval des Andes is composed of Malbec planted in 1929 in the La Compuertas vineyard, at an elevation of 1,070m, and Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Altamira vineyard in the Uco Valley, at 1,150m. Between them, these cool, vertiginous vineyards provide the fruit for the final blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Malbec, with the final 2% coming from Petit Verdot.
We have very limited stocks available, so please email us straight away if you would like to order.
Offered en primeur, landing in the UK in spring 2024.
| RED | 2020 | Cheval des Andes | 75cl | £402 per case of 6 | Cheval des Andes 2020 / / 75cl £402 per case of 6 |
IB | |||||
Tasting Notes"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...97 points." Jane Anson------“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. 98 points." Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate |
|||||||||||
