2016 Cheval des Andes

Immediately seductive floral and smoke notes. The complexity in the construction of the wine is clear - precise cassis and blueberry along with slate, scorched earth and the seductive, succulent and powerful spice of Malbec. Excellent quality, with liqourice root and violet curling out of the glass. First year with 100% of grapes from their own plots, entirely given over to Cheval des Andes, without any from Terrazas de los Andes. Lorenzo Pasquini winemaker. 70% new oak.

I also tasted the 2015 and 2016 next to the newly released 2017 to give it some context and to see the evolution and changes implemented in the last few years. The 2016 Cheval des Andes is probably the freshest wine produced to date and the first vintage when they used 100% own grapes. Of the trio of vintages tasted together—2015, 2016 and 2017—this is the one with less alcohol and more freshness, and it remains a more austere expression, reflecting a cooler and wetter year that resulted in a less exuberant wine, a benchmark for freshness. I'm looking forward to 2018 to see where they go in the next cool vintage after this 2016... They produced 60,000 bottles and 2,400 magnums. It was bottled in December 2017.

From Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira. 58% Malbec, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot. El Niño vintage so no hydric stress. The last vintage with Petit Verdot. They regard this as a great vintage because of the nautral freshness. They loved the precision. Neat and lively. Like a luxury car. Bit of bite and raciness. Great energy. (JR)