Description
Exceptional » is the word we can use to describe the 2016 harvest. The new vintage was cropped from a completely unusual year due to unstable temperatures – cooler than the average and with an exceptional amount of rain marked by El Niño, a cyclical phenomenon caused by the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This resulted in heavy rainfall between October and December.
Thanks to the spring rainfall during budburst and veraison, the phenological cycle was delayed by 20 days. On one hand , due to higher temperatures followed by a dry summer, the vines produced lower yields than usual. While on the other hand they produced small but rich and concentrated berries.
Following a careful selection process, the vintage was vinified in small stainless-steel vats (80hl). The 2016 vintage was aged for 14 months in oak; 2/3 in 225 litre barriques and 1/3 in larger 400 litre barrels.
70% of the wine was aged in new oak and 30% in 1-year-old barrels. All of the barrels were made from oak from Central France. The barrels used to age this vintage of Cheval des Andes were made by world-class French coopers.
In the 2016 vintage, 100% of the grapes came from the top ‘terroirs’ of Las Compuertas and La Consulta. The resulting wines have good ageing potential and are notable by their precision, balance and freshness.
BLEND
Malbec (58%), Cabernet Sauvignon (37%) , Petit Verdot (5%).
COLOUR
Intense shiny red with purple hints
AROMAS
Very intense aromatic expression. The bouquet of aromas of red fruit (cherry, wild strawberries) and spices is intensified by the freshness and complexity of the wine.
PALATE
On the palate, the balance of this wine is predominant. A supple and fresh attack add a lovely liveliness. Soft, precise tannins bring an attractive structure with an elegant finish.
THE STORY
