Winemaker Notes
Color: Deep, almost black core, with bright violet highlights.
Aroma: It opens with notes of fresh red berries, combined with blackcurrant and redcurrants, followed by roses and violets. It is completed by hints of Asian spices such as fresh ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Supplementary traces of licorice and plums.
Palate: A sensual mouthfeel, with great structure supported by soft and elegant tannins accompanied by subtle acidity. The increased presence of Malbec in the blend guarantees an excellent balance between the Cabernet Sauvignon's structure and Malbec's freshness.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Cheval des Andes is made up of 60% Malbec, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Purple-colored, it exhibits a complex bouquet of wood smoke, scorched earth, violets, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate it is remarkably elegant with a velvety texture, superb depth, savory flavors, ripe tannin, and 5-7 years of aging potential. Its drinking window will begin in 2014 and last through 2030 at the least.
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Wine Enthusiast
Consistency in the wine world is a virtue, and Cheval covers the consistency issue with ease. Aromas of earth, mushroom, leather and so forth add an Old World touch to this New World Malbec-Cabernet blend. An interesting wine that grabs and holds your attention.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and inviting, with crushed plum, currant paste and warm fig sauce flavors backed with alluring cocoa and espresso notes. This has a very silky texture, with a long, suave finish. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2011.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
With vineyards tretching along the eastern side of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia in the south to Salta in the north, Argentina is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic wine producing countries—and most important in South America.
Since the late 20th century vineyard investments, improved winery technology and a commitment to innovation have all contributed to the country’s burgeoning image as a producer of great wines at all price points. The climate here is diverse but generally continental and agreeable, with hot, dry summers and cold snowy winters—a positive, as snow melt from the Andes Mountains is used heavily to irrigate vineyards. Grapes very rarely have any difficulty achieving full ripeness.
Argentina’s famous Mendoza region, responsible for more than 70% of Argentina’s wine production, is further divided into several sub-regions, with Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley most noteworthy. Red wines dominate here, especially Malbec, the country’s star variety, while Chardonnay is the most successful white.
The province of San Juan is best known for blends of Bonarda and Syrah. Torrontés is a specialty of the La Rioja and Salta regions, the latter of which is also responsible for excellent Malbecs grown at very high elevation.