CUVELIER LOS ANDES: FRENCH KNOW-HOW PROVES ARGENTINA IS STILL RELEVANT 

Argentina’s reputation is a double-edged sword: it’s remarkable for Malbec, but after tasting the handful of icon wines there’s a sense that any savvy collector has “been there, done that.” This is truly the French know-how, with the Argentine experience and the Mendoza terroir.  In 1998, the Bordeaux enology legend Michel Rolland was working on some projects around the world and was seduced by a specific 850-hectare plot in Mendoza. Rolland purchased the property, and this was his only investment outside of Bordeaux. He then offered the opportunity to six of the top Bordeaux Châteaux to join him and together they formed a prestigious group known as the Clos de Los 7. Château Léoville Poyferre was one of the top estates invited to join the Clos de Los 7. Léoville Poyferre is a family run estate, with winemaking history dating back to 1804. The estate planted their vineyards in Mendoza in 1999 and named the new Argentinian project Cuvelier Los Andres in 1999. A new generation of the family, Baptiste and Guillame, took over as winemakers in 2009, and with the guidance of Rolland have taken this project to new heights. After tasting these wines last week, we were all incredibly surprised, and the wines received a stamp of approval from the entire team. The 2017 Cabernet and the 2017 Grand Vin particularly stood out for their price points. However, the 2012 El Cuvelier had the depth, power, and structure to bring it to its own tier of excellence. - BF