2010 Cheval des Andes

60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot. The deepest and bluest of a range 2010-2013 inclusive. They acknowledge it’s the most obviously New World. This was the turning-point vintage. Big and bold on the nose. Lots of alcohol! Very sweet and round with a little bit of char. Bit obvious. Some toasted oak and much more new oak than younger vintages. A little obvious and rustic. (JR)

The 2010 Cheval des Andes is produced with grapes grown at an old vineyard (planted in 1929) at Las Compuertas, in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza plus grapes from La Consulta in the Uco Valley. The blend changes with each vintage and in 2010 they had very good Petit Verdot so the percentage of it is higher than ever. It's a blend of 60% Malbec and 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The wine shows great integration of the oak, with notes of blackcurrant and spices (black pepper), showing restraint and incipient elegance along with underbrush and hints of truffles. I think I've never seen such an elegant Cheval des Andes. The palate reveals very good balance between power and elegance with ripe, fine-grained tannins, good length and freshness. Stronger balsamic notes emerge with time in the glass. This is one of the finest vintages of Cheval des Andes, challenged maybe... by 2011! Keep an eye open for these two vintages. 60,000 bottles produced.