Cheval des Andes, Mendoza, 2022

Name: Cheval des Andes, Mendoza
Brand: Cheval des Andes
Price: 336 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2012 2017 2020 2022

justerini & brooks tasting note

This wine has wonderful tension and backbone, but with a juicy, fruit driven character. It certainly smells remarkably ‘old world’ with plenty of blackcurrant, plum and tobacco. The palate is very smooth, with just the gentlest sense of smoky new world Malbec character, and supremely well-judged tannins. You get lots of background herbal notes, though without any sense of greenness. It is long and darkly energetic on the finish.

critic reviews

97/100Matthew Luczy,Inside Bordeaux

The 2022 Cheval des Andes opens with an exotic, spice-driven bouquet, supplemented by lifted herbal notes and a vibrantly red-fruited and perfumed backdrop. The palate is similarly energetic, melding an elegantly rich, polished texture with a slender, tensile energy. It concludes with a long, persistent and high-toned finish that gradually unfurls a sturdy structure of supremely refined tannins. This is an excellent counterpoint to the comparatively darker and more open-knit 2021, showcasing a brighter, more tenacious profile while sacrificing none of the grace, nuance and textural attention to detail that has come to define Cheval des Andes. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2037

date of review 05/2025

99/100Joaquin Hidalgo,Vinous

The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aging was carried out in 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels and 25% 2,500-liter foudres, with 50% new oak. A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2042

date of review 04/2025