El Enemigo, Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina, 2020

Overview of the Wine
El Enemigo translates as the enemy. Nodding to the fact that at the end of any journey, most remember only one battle — the one fought within (the original enemy). This is the battle that defines us. The wines of El Enemigo are a tribute to those internal battles that make us who we are, brought to fruition by a winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, and a historian, Adrianna Catena who share a love of wine and reach back in time to capture the era when European immigrants first settled in Argentina. These settlers sought to make wines as fine, and finer, than those of their old homeland. By 1936, Malbec and Petit Verdot were the most widely planted fine varietals in Argentina, their blend considered the ultimate in refinement and aging potential.

Grape / Blend
85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec

Origin
Mendoza, Argentina

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
El Gran Enemigo SV Gualtallary shows a deep purple color with red highlights. Its aromas are intense and elegant. Cabernet Franc brings sweet spices, black pepper and light notes of eucalyptus and thyme. Malbec brings notes of ripe black fruits, blackberries and black cherries. The oak aging gives a touch of chocolate and vanilla to blend. The taste is complex, sweet impact with structured tannins, and a very long and persistent finish. This wine was made in
honor of the old Pomerol style where Cabernet Franc was blended with the other Bordeaux varieties.

This wine is excellent with grilled meats and various cheeses.

99 Points - Wine Advocate
The 2020 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard is nothing but phenomenal. It's very fresh and balanced and, for a warm year like 2020, doesn't show any heat or excess; it's subtle and has an ethereal character within the powerful and exuberant character from Gualtallary. It fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and some full clusters, sometimes up to 70% of the volume. It's intense and powerful, but something makes if feel light on its feet and with great inner power. This is still young and should develop nicely in bottle and for a long time. 9,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2021 after maturing in large oak foudres for 15 months.

96 Points - James Suckling
Ink and licorice with blackberry and black olive aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with round, fine tannins that are crunchy and refined. It has a juicy undertone and a savory finish. Just a hint of cedar and caramel at the end. Drinkable now but better in a year or two.

95 Points - Vinous
The 2020 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Gualtallary hails from the higher-altitude regions of the Uco Valley. Despite being produced in a warm year, this wine maintains a juicy essence, although it lacks depth. It opens with an intense bouquet of grapefruit, violet, and wild herbs. Natural fruit flavors emerge on the palate, highlighted by blackberry hints and a chalky texture, culminating in a long, fruit-driven finish. This wine is a vertical, showcasing slightly riper fruit nuances. It's interesting how a region like Gualtallary can shift its profile between warm and cool years, emphasizing the extremes. 

Product size: 750ml