Terrazas Cheval des Andes

Terrazas Cheval des Andes is a 750ml Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Mendoza, Argentina, bottled at 14.2% ABV. Born from a joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes established in 1999, this grand vin has earned a perfect 100-point score from James Suckling for the 2017 vintage, placing it among the most critically acclaimed wines produced in South America.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.2%  |  Origin: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina  |  Style: Malbec–Cabernet Sauvignon Blend  |  Producer: Cheval des Andes (Château Cheval Blanc × Terrazas de los Andes)

Production & Heritage

Cheval des Andes draws from ungrafted Malbec vines planted in 1929, growing on their own rootstock — a living relic of pre-phylloxera viticulture that no longer exists in France. Pierre Lurton, president of Château Cheval Blanc, has described the project as "a journey to the roots of Bordeaux." The vineyards sit at approximately 1,070 meters (3,500 feet) above sea level in Luján de Cuyo, where extreme diurnal temperature swings — hot days and cool nights — concentrate flavor and preserve natural acidity. The blend typically runs 50–62% Malbec and 30–49% Cabernet Sauvignon, combining the structure and discipline of Right Bank Bordeaux winemaking with the intense fruit character of high-altitude Argentine terroir.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe plum and blackcurrant, layered with violets, lavender, and rose petal. Deeper inhalation reveals white pepper, fresh mint, cedar, and sandalwood, with subtle undercurrents of charcoal and bacon-like smoke.

Taste: The palate entry is generous with blue and black fruit — blueberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant — before moving into a mid-palate of dark chocolate, vanilla, and Asian spice notes of fresh ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The structure is firm yet polished, with tannins that feel thoroughly integrated, supporting the wine's considerable weight without overwhelming its freshness.

Finish: Long and resonant, with lingering licorice, stone minerality, and cedar. A thread of cool mint and wild herbs extends well past the final sip, leaving a distinctly savory impression.

How to Drink Cheval des Andes

This is a wine designed for the glass, not the mixing tin. Serve at 16–18°C (61–64°F), ideally after 30–60 minutes in a decanter to allow the aromatics to fully unfold. Younger vintages benefit from extended decanting — up to two hours — to soften tannins and reveal secondary complexity. A large-bowled Bordeaux glass concentrates the layered nose and directs the wine across the full palate.

Best For

• Collecting verticals of one of Argentina's most consistently top-rated wines
• Gifting a serious Bordeaux enthusiast something that challenges expectations
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner alongside prime cuts or slow-cooked lamb
• Cellaring for long-term development — top vintages show decades of potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cheval des Andes taste like? Cheval des Andes delivers concentrated black and blue fruit — blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant — supported by dark chocolate, cedar, and baking spice, with a fresh herbal lift of mint and lavender. The finish is long and mineral-driven with licorice and stone.

How does Cheval des Andes compare to Bordeaux Right Bank wines? The wine was conceived to marry Bordeaux discipline with Argentine terroir, using Malbec where Merlot would appear in Saint-Émilion blends. The result is bolder in fruit intensity and higher in altitude-driven freshness than most Right Bank Bordeaux, while sharing a similar tannic architecture and aging potential.

Is Cheval des Andes good for cellaring? Cheval des Andes is built for long-term aging, with firm tannin structure, balanced acidity, and concentrated fruit from old vines at high altitude. Top vintages like 2017 (100 points, James Suckling) and 2019 (99 points, Tim Atkin MW) can evolve gracefully for 15–25 years or more.

Where is Cheval des Andes made? Cheval des Andes is produced in Luján de Cuyo, a sub-region of Mendoza, Argentina, at approximately 1,070 meters elevation. The project is a joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc of Saint-Émilion, France, and Terrazas de los Andes, established in 1999.

What foods pair well with Cheval des Andes? Grilled Argentine-style ribeye benefits from the wine's tannin and dark fruit weight. Slow-braised lamb shoulder echoes its savory, herbal undertones. Aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Comté complement the cedar and spice notes. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the mid-palate richness without overwhelming the finish. Venison with a blackberry reduction creates a direct bridge to the wine's core fruit profile.

What sizes does Cheval des Andes come in? Cheval des Andes is available in the standard 750ml bottle, with some vintages also released in magnum (1.5L) format.

Is Cheval des Andes worth the price? Cheval des Andes positions as a prestige-tier Argentine wine and is priced accordingly, competing with top Mendoza labels and mid-to-upper Bordeaux. Given its perfect and near-perfect scores across multiple critics and vintages — including 100 from James Suckling and 98 from Robert Parker — it represents strong critical validation relative to its price tier.

Why Cheval des Andes?

Few wines on earth can claim ungrafted vines approaching a century old, growing at over 1,000 meters, guided by one of Bordeaux's most storied estates. The 1929 Malbec plantings at the heart of Cheval des Andes are a direct genetic link to the grape's French origins before phylloxera reshaped European viticulture — a historical footnote that translates into measurable intensity and complexity in the glass. Critical consensus backs this up: the 2017 vintage earned a perfect 100 from James Suckling, the 2020 received 98 from Robert Parker, and the 2019 scored 99 from Tim Atkin MW. Cheval des Andes is not a Bordeaux imitation — it is a distinct expression of what Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon achieve when old-world rigor meets high-altitude Argentine terroir.