CUVELIER DE LOS ANDES 2019 GRAND VIN

60% Malbec, 30% Cab Sauv, 2% Petit Verdot, 8% Syrah

JAMES SUCKLING 95 POINTS – “This has a perfumed and complex nose of sandalwood, tobacco, blackberries, black cherries, violets and spice box. Polished and deep, with a full body and firm, fine-grained tannins. Long and classy. Keeps going.”

This is the flagship wine of the estate, founded by the Cuvelier family that owns Chateau Leoville Poyferre in Bordeaux. These are polished but characterful wines inspired by the modern Bordeaux style with the help of super-consultant Michel Rolland. In honor of that famous region, the wine is backed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, but since Malbec is traditionally the most important variety in Argentina, that’s what drives the wine. This is full-bodied and texturally rich, with ripe dark and red fruits backed by some cocoa, vanilla, and baking spice notes from the French oak, with a softened texture and well-meshed, developing flavors like leather and truffle from the extended aging in bottle. This is a great choice this season for dishes with lamb and fresh mint sauce, or quail with truffle.