2007 Cheval des Andes

Blackish crimson. Sweet and light and furry and round but without a real core of fruit. (JR)

The 2007 Cheval des Andes is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Malbec, 4% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot that is aged for 18 months in oak. Tasted on two occasions, it was unexpectedly bashful and unresponsive on first acquaintance. The second meeting was more promising. It offers a ripe bouquet of raspberry coulis, strawberry, vanilla and cedar, augmented by cigar box with a little aeration. It is well-defined, and the oak is neatly folded into the fruit. The palate is fleshy in the mouth, to the point where you would think it was more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is nicely balanced, although I searched for more backbone and structure, especially on the finish, which is delineated but laconic. It is undoubtedly a very pleasurable wine, but I feel it could give so much more. Drink now-2017. I spent a couple of hours visiting Terrazas de los Andes in Lujan de Cuyo. Its origins can be traced as far back as the 1950s, when Moet Chandon dispatched oenologist Renaud Poirer to Latin America. They soon established a reputation for their sparkling wines, although it was not until 1999 that they set up the winery. They have become well-known for their joint venture with Cheval Blanc, -Cheval des Andes,- which demonstrates how highly the most eminent properties in Bordeaux regard Mendoza and its potential. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA; www.mhusa.com