2020 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard
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From Gualtallary Monasterio. Includes 15% Malbec. Fermentation in barrel (French oak, third use) , average temperature: 23 °C/73 ° F. Cold maceration for 4 days. Average total maceration 26 days. 40% whole bunch. Aged in 100-year-old foudre for 15 months. One of the most seductive wines in the region. Sour - cherry notes are mingled with sweet pink peppercorn, wild thyme and meadow flowers in this expressive and fragrant Cabernet Franc. Alejandro Vigil is a great believer in blending, and the 15% Malbec adds a riper black - fruit softness to the finish, which is wrapped in sweet spices. This is still very much in its youth today and should reveal greater nuance over time. (AB)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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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.
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 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.
About the producer
El Enemigo has quickly become one of Argentina’s top wine estates, specialising in high-altitude, single-vineyard Cabernet Franc cuvées and Bordeaux blends. They also produce a range of single-vineyard cuvées from the lesser-known variety Bonarda.