| Region of production: | Mendoza IG |
| Winery Location: | Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza |
| Year Established: | 1999 |
Vineyard Holdings
65 ha
50 ha
- Las Compuertas: Las Compuertas IG. A mixture of sand, limestone, and clay alluvial and silty-loam soils. The deeper soils are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, while the shallower soils are planted to Malbec. 1,070 meters in elevation.
- Paraje Altamira: Paraje Altamira IG. Cooler than the Las Compuertas property, with a wider diurnal swing. A mixture of sand, limestone, and clay alluvial soils. Purchased in 2001.
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Cheval des Andes (Mendoza IG): Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, sometimes featuring a small percentage of Petit Verdot or Merlot. In 2001 and 2002, Cabernet was the dominant grape in the blend. It has remained the featured grape, but its proportion has since ranged from 41% to 83%. 100% estate fruit. Inaugural vintage 2001.
Average Total Production
- 72,000 bottles
Summary
Cheval des Andes is a collaboration between Saint-Émilion estate Château Cheval Blanc (owned by French luxury firm LVMH) and Argentine producer Terrazas de los Andes (established in 1996 by LVMH). Longtime Cheval Blanc President Pierre Lurton found inspiration in Argentina’s old and ungrafted Malbec vines, an extinct phenomenon in Bordeaux, leading to the formation of the project. Cheval des Andes began in Luján de Cuyo, but the winery quickly acquired a second vineyard property in Altamira, within the Uco Valley, in 2001. Cheval des Andes makes only one wine, with fruit harvested entirely from its two properties. Lurton continues as president, with Gerald Gabillet and Pierre Oliver Clouet as winemakers.
Style & Vinification Techniques
The grapes for Cheval des Andes are harvested by hand. Following fermentation in stainless steel, the wine is aged for roughly 18 months. In recent years, Cheval des Andes has moved from barriques to tonneaux and is employing more used barrels.
Producer Website: Cheval des Andes