Cuvelier los Andes Coleccion Red Blend

Cuvelier Los Andes Coleccion Red Blend is a Malbec-dominant blend from Mendoza's Valle de Uco at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Produced by the Cuvelier family—proprietors of Château Léoville-Poyferré, a Second Growth Saint-Julien estate—this wine earned 90 points from Wine Advocate and Gold medals at both the Sommeliers Choice Awards and USA Wine Ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina  |  Style: Malbec-Led Red Blend  |  Winery: Cuvelier Los Andes

Production & Heritage

Cuvelier Los Andes was established by the Cuvelier family, who have shaped Bordeaux winemaking for generations through their ownership of Château Léoville-Poyferré, Château Le Crock, and Château Moulin Riche. The estate sits at altitude in Vista Flores, Tunuyán, in the heart of the Valle de Uco, where vineyards are farmed using organic and biodynamic practices with entirely manual harvesting and low yields of just five to six tons per hectare. The Coleccion blend—typically anchored by Malbec with supporting roles from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot—is aged for 12 months with 60% of the wine maturing in French oak barrels. The estate is also a founding partner of Clos de Los Siete, the high-profile project overseen by consulting winemaker Michel Rolland.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with intense red and dark fruit—ripe plum, blackberry, and cherry—before revealing layers of spice, dried flowers, and a subtle mineral edge. There is an underlying earthiness with hints of mushroom and bark that add complexity.

Taste: The palate entry is juicy and immediate, with dark damson and berry fruit meeting a well-integrated acidity that keeps the wine vibrant. At mid-palate, flavors of dark chocolate and baking spice emerge, supported by richly silky texture. The body sits at medium-to-full, with polished, fine-grained tannins providing structure without austerity.

Finish: The finish is moderately long, with a gentle tannic grip framing lingering notes of ripe plum and dark chocolate. A thread of minerality persists, lending freshness and encouraging another sip.

How to Drink the Coleccion

This blend shows its best character at cellar temperature, around 60–64°F, poured into a large-bowled glass and given 20 to 30 minutes of air. A brief decant opens up the spice and mineral layers further. For cocktail-adjacent serves: try a red wine Sangria using this as the base for its dark-fruit intensity; a New York Sour, where its tannic structure and acidity float beautifully over bourbon; or a Kalimotxo, where the wine's richness and freshness balance the bittersweet cola.

Best For

• Introducing a Bordeaux enthusiast to Argentina's top Malbec-led blends
• Pairing with a weekend asado or grilled red-meat dinner
• Building a South American fine wine collection at an accessible entry point
• Gifting someone who appreciates Old World winemaking philosophy applied to New World terroir

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Coleccion taste like? It is a fruit-forward yet structured red dominated by ripe plum, blackberry, and cherry with supporting notes of dark chocolate, baking spice, and a mineral freshness. Fine-grained tannins and lively acidity give it balance and a silky mouthfeel.

How does the Coleccion compare to Clos de Los Siete? Both wines originate from Valle de Uco estates connected to Michel Rolland, but the Coleccion is produced entirely from Cuvelier Los Andes' own estate-grown fruit under organic and biodynamic practices, while Clos de Los Siete is a multi-estate blend. The Coleccion tends to show more overt minerality and a Bordeaux-influenced tannic architecture, reflecting the Cuvelier family's Grand Cru pedigree.

Is the Coleccion good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—its balance of fruit concentration, polished tannins, and fresh acidity makes it a rewarding wine to drink neat, especially after a short decant to let the spice and mineral layers fully emerge.

Where is the Coleccion made? It is made at the Cuvelier Los Andes estate in Vista Flores, Tunuyán, within the Valle de Uco sub-region of Mendoza, Argentina. The high-altitude vineyards sit at the foot of the Andes, benefiting from significant diurnal temperature shifts.

What foods pair well with the Coleccion? Grilled Argentine-style ribeye or skirt steak highlights the wine's dark fruit and tannic structure. Slow-braised lamb shoulder mirrors its spice notes. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego complement the mineral finish. Mushroom risotto echoes the earthy aromatics, and dark chocolate desserts play off the mid-palate cocoa character.

What sizes does the Coleccion come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is the Coleccion worth the price? The Coleccion positions as a premium Argentine red blend that punches well above its price tier, given its estate-grown fruit, organic and biodynamic farming, French oak aging, and the Cuvelier family's Second Growth Bordeaux heritage. Its 90-point Wine Advocate score and multiple Gold medals reinforce strong value within the fine Argentine blend category.

Why the Coleccion?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Argentine Malbec blends is its direct lineage to one of Bordeaux's most respected families. The Cuvelier family applies the same Grand Cru philosophy—manual harvesting, stringent yield control, and extended French oak maturation—to high-altitude Mendoza fruit farmed under organic and biodynamic practices. The result is a wine that bridges Old World discipline with New World generosity, validated by a 90-point Wine Advocate rating and Gold medals at both the Sommeliers Choice Awards and USA Wine Ratings. For drinkers seeking a serious, terroir-expressive Argentine red without ultra-premium pricing, the Coleccion stands as one of the most compelling options from the Valle de Uco.