
2021 El Enemigo "Gran Enemigo - Gualtallary" Cabernet Franc Mendoza
99
Wine Advocate
Review Date: 05/2025As difficult as it is to pick a winner between the Gualtallary and El Cepillo bottlings, the 2021 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard gets my nod as the supreme example of the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Cabernet Francs. It hails from a plot planted on calcareous rocky soils in 1995 with 10,000 vines per hectare, fermented with 40% whole bunches in barrique and underwent a 15-month élevage in 100-year-old foudre. Opening with a brooding, inward and quietly perfumed nose, its aromatic profile ceaselessly expands to encompass all manner of herbal and floral complexity, combining simmering intensity with supreme elegance. The palate follows suit with a rich, silky, refined and gently succulent energy, releasing into a graceful, dense and glacial conclusion that gives equal measure to vertical energy and horizontal richness. The finish slowly but steadily builds upon itself, revealing shimmering acidity and ultra-refined tannins with increased aeration. There is no better example of Cabernet Franc's suitability in the Uco Valley, a match rendered here with incomparable finesse, depth and complexity. (ML)
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Notes
El Enemigo was born in 2009 as a passion project between two friends and has since developed an almost cult-like following that is steady and growing. The minds behind the winery are Adrianna Catena, daughter of the legendary Nicolás Catena, and Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata and former head of the soil division at Argentina’s Wine Institute. The idea for El Enemigo took shape after a celebration honoring Nicolás Catena in London. While walking along the River Thames, Adrianna and Alejandro discussed their vision: to create a wine that honors tradition while challenging convention. The name El Enemigo—Spanish for “the enemy”—reflects their desire to confront the status quo. Inspired by a shared love for Bordeaux, their goal was to produce cool-climate, high-altitude Cabernet Franc. Today, winemaking is split between the Catena family winery in the Uco Valley and Alejandro’s personal barrel room. At the heart of their portfolio are the Gran Enemigo wines. The standout is the Gualtallary Cabernet Franc, sourced from a single vineyard located at just over 4,800 feet in the Uco Valley. Blended with 15% Malbec, the wine is fermented in concrete tanks with 40% whole-cluster inclusion. It undergoes an extended post-fermentation maceration, with about 40 days before pressing. Aging takes place in concrete for 15 months, preserving the wine’s vibrant and elegant character. Distinctive and compelling, this is a must-try expression of Argentine winemaking.
Product Details
Origin: Argentina
Type/Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Alcohol Content: 13.9%
SKU: #1923244

