El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2018

El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2018

 

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El Enemigo
Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2018
  • Vintage : 2018
  • Country : Argentina
  • Region : Mendoza
  • Subregion
  • Type : Red
  • Style Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13°
  • Grappes : 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 98 2014
RP Robert Parker 98 2014
DCT Decanter 95 2014
TA Tim Atkin 95 2014
WS Wine Spectator 91 2014
W&S Wines & Spirits 90 2014
WE Wine Enthusiast 94 2013
More information on wine critics and ratings

Winemaking is spread between the Catena family winery in the Uco Valley and Alejandro's own barrel room in his garden of Chachingo - The Republic - where his young son rides a horse among olive trees and where dogs and chickens share the grounds with the Vigil family and the winery.

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.

The wines of El Enemigo are meant to give a flavour of Argentina’s wine history while at the same time pushing new boundaries. Although wine has been in Argentina for centuries, it is only comparatively recently that their wines have reached the same quality levels as the Old World. The winemakers at El Enemigo wanted to make light of the fact Argentina has embraced both aspects of modern winemaking, fresh and fruity New World style wines as well as classic “Old World” style… Read more

James Suckling (JS) : 98 Points (2014)
A perfumed and significant red on the nose with crushed blackberries, currant bush and rose petal. Full body, fresh herbs, dense fruit and a racy finish. Very powerful.

Robert Parker (RP) : 98 Points (2014)
I also tasted the 2014 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard, which might take some months to come into the market. It has some balsamic aromas, medicinal hints, traces of orange peel, saffron and a touch of sweet spices. It's built around very fine tannins and a notable core of acidity that acts as backbone, giving it length and lifting up the finish. This is quite in line with the 2010 vintage, with power and freshness in a rare combination of clout and elegance only the very best wines manage to show. 

Decanter (DCT) : 95 Points (2014)
A vibrant, opulent and very stylish example with a complex earthy, mineral, cassis, blueberry and cinnamon nose and taste, plus well-integrated oak. Drink through to ca. 2028.

Tim Atkin (TA) : 95 Points (2014)
My pick of the Gran Enemigos in 2014, this cuvée of Cabernet Franc with 15% Malbec hails from Gualtallary. It’s a fresh, savoury, scented style with chalky minerality, fine-boned tannins and a long, tangy, refreshing finish. Sappy, mouth-watering stuff. 2019-28

Wine Spectator (WS) : 91 Points (2014)
Dense and powerful, with notes of iron and underbrush to the dark currant, black olive and raspberry flavors, backed by juicy acidity. Cocoa powder details fill in the suave finish. Drink now through 2022. 

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 90 Points (2014)
Alejandro Vigil aged this wine in 100-year-old barrels that he brought over from Alsace, believing they’d complement the spice of cabernet franc. In fact, this is enticingly aromatic, notes of violets, roses, and leather giving the juicy fruit lots of detail. It’s a pretty franc, gentle and earthy.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 94 Points (2013)
Winemaker/owner Alejandro Vigil keeps the hits coming with this complex but highly appealing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Robust aromas of balsamic black fruits and licorice ease into a round lush tannic palate. Lightly herbal flavors of blackberry, cassis, pepper and baking spices end with spicy chocolaty oak and licorice flavors. Drink this whopper through 2024.Editors' Choice

El Enemigo Malbec 2019
El Enemigo Malbec 2019
El Enemigo
Malbec 2019
JS
92
WS
90
RP
93
On the nose the Malbec has floral scents of violets and lavender, along with the freshness of its natural acidity. The Petit Verdot lends the aromas of the ripe black berry fruits. The palate offers vanilla and toasted flavours; in the mouth it is sweet, silky and big. It is a wine of a good balance and strong tannins.
27,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo 2018
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo 2018
El Enemigo
Gran Enemigo 2018
JS
97
W&S
92
VN
96
In the spectrum of people who pay attention to detail, winemakers are often incredibly detail oriented. This can sometimes spill over to become an internal battled, and, as Alejandro Vigil and…
70,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
105,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
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El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2018 Reviewed by James Suckling 20-05-2023 . Score: 5