Cheval des Andes - Mendoza 2020

[...] It is slightly more mature than the 2019, with a bit more alcohol (14.5%) and very good structural tannins while retaining its freshness, and it has the spicy character of Petit Verdot (Gabillet describes it as white pepper). The wine has a very smooth and polished texture, as well as the elegance and balance that characterize it here; the wine is very clean and precise. I note a very good consistency among the three vintages I tasted side by side—this 2020 and the 2018 and 2019. Overall, this is a triumph over the unfavorable conditions of the vintage. They have produced their usual 100,000 bottles (since 2018), as they are renewing their vineyards and want to maintain a stable volume. They produce this volume from the 36 hectares of productive vineyards they own in Las Compuertas and Altamira. [...] They focus on agroecology, accelerating regenerative viticulture and using cover crops; they have planted 1,900 trees over the past three years, creating small pockets of biodiversity for birds. They have planted 1,900 trees over the past three years, thereby creating small pockets of biodiversity for birds. They have transplanted a few century-old olive trees and keep their sheep and llamas on the property. They are very environmentally conscious. 2024–2034

The riper, darker fruit on the nose reflects the warmer 2020 vintage. Although ripe, the wine doesn’t feel stagnant, which is a real improvement over recent years. The palate also features a cashmere-like texture and vibrant acidity, signs that the team has worked hard to transition from a thicker, riper style to a balanced and lively one. Blackcurrant and black cherry are accompanied by notes of blood orange and violet. Mineral and deep, this wine should age well in the bottle. 2024–2036

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 is purple in the glass with garnet highlights. The nose offers a nuanced expression of the 2020 vintage’s warmth, with aromas of ripe plum, red currant, and mint, along with hints of white pepper against a backdrop of bay leaf and cedar. On the palate, it is dry and velvety, with rich, polished tannins that create a juicy, balanced mouthfeel. The balsamic notes and richness on the palate reflect the character of the vintage, while the finish is lively and lingering. 2025–2035

Ripe black cherries cooked with spices and a few violets. Notes of graphite, cocoa powder, incense, and black pepper. Dried rose petals. A slightly fuller-bodied Cheval des Andes, with taut, silky tannins and a lingering, generous finish. Ripe, yet with great restraint and precision. 49% Malbec, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot. 24% of the Malbec comes from Altamira, and the rest of the grapes come from Las Compuertas. Ready to drink or for aging.