The 2005 Cuvelier Los Andes is a blend of 70% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 7% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.
Dark violet in color. Black cherry and dark fruit compote, graphite and a hint of soy sauce on the nose. Black fruit, plum, licorice, pencil shavings and espresso on the palate. Very dry, broad with good concentration and well integrated/structured with ample, soft tannins.
The wine was aged in French oak for 12 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Cuvelier Los Andes is owned by Leoville Poyferre (a 2nd Growth Bordeaux property in the Medoc) and the wine was produced with consultant Michel Roland — and is part of the Clos de los Siete, a collaborative project by seven producers in Argentina.
I bought more of this wine after tasting it to put down and would expect this to mature over the next 7-10 years or more. Very sophisticated and well made. Another example of Argentina’s leadership position of producing the best wines in South America, though I suspect many would not identify this as an Argentine wine in a blind tasting.
Be careful buying this wine, I have seen it priced as low as $22 a bottle and as high as $34 a bottle. It may not be as good of a value as the Clos de los Siete, but I would be inclined to go with the Cuvelier if I had to choose between the two — and it is certainly the more age worthy of the two. Strongly recommended.
[…] This is probably my second favorite wine from Argentina that I have had this year. My favorite is the Cuvilier Los Andes 2005. […]
[…] state of the economy and adjusting to life with a mortgage, I would be inclined to buy 4 bottles of Cuvelier de Los Andes 2005 for the same price as a single bottle of Almaviva. That being said, in a blind tasting one might […]
Cuvelier Los Andes is actually producing 3 wines –
The Grand Vin (2005) that you have pictured is 75% Malbec, 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
They produced approx 4000 six packs, which is how the wine is packaged. The Grand Vin usually sells for around $35 at retail.
Your friend and mine Mr Robert Parker gave the Grand Vin 94pts.
Cuvelier also produced approx 8000 six packs of 2005 “Coleccion”. Coleccion 2005 is a blend of 62% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 7% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Coleccion usually retails for $22 – $24
The $22 bottle of Cuvelier that Tom saw may have been the Coleccion?
Additionally Cuvelier has their 2005 Grand Malbec which is 100% Malbec and for the 05 vintage they produced approx 1300 six packs. The Grand Malbec is fabulous, very dark and inky, it will take time to open up if you want drink it now and it will be very interesting to see how this wine develops over the coming years. Parker also gave 94pts to the Grand Malbec. The Grand Malbec retails for roughly $50/bottle. Six bottles come packaged in a wooden crate.
I also like the fact that the packaging of the Cuvelier Los Andes wines mirrors the look of the wines made at Leoville Poyferre.