Despite a warmer vintage, Gran Enemigo 2020 stays cool, elegant, and full of life. This high-altitude blendled by Malbec, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauvignonis textured and fresh, with juicy dark fruit, fine tannins, and no hint of heaviness. Aged in old foudres, it\’s beautifully balanced and already earning praise, with Wine Advocate giving it 95 points.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Nov 30, 2022
Drink: 2023-2032

Tasting three vintages, I see great regularity in the blended Gran Enemigo. The 2020 Gran Enemigo was produced with 50% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from Gualtallary, going back to the usual blend. The wine shows exceptionally well, as some wines can show a bit ripe and sometimes fatigued in this warmer year, but this is fresh and lively, expressive and with a solid palate with restraint and balance and no excess. The texture is velvety from very fine tannins, and there\’s juicy fruit with no concession for sweetness. It has similar parameters to the other vintages I tasted next to it, with 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.4. This is still very young. 24,000 bottles were filled in July 2021.

There are some new wines at El Enemigo, a project from Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena that does not stop growing. They produce an impressive 1.2 million bottles between all the ranges. They are also going to plant some more vineyards with Chardonnay.

Enemigowines.com

40% Malbec + 25% Cabernet Sauvignon + 25% Cabernet Franc + 5% Merlot + 5% Petit Verdot

Vineyard
Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot: Gualtallary, Tupungato, 1470 masl / 4,822 ft High density vineyard.

Type of Soil
Malbec: Sandy Loam, with limestone base, rocky soil.
Cabernet Franc: Calcareous, rocky soil
Petit Verdot: Sandy
Cabernet sauvignon: Deep sandy soil.

Vinification
Fermentation in barrel, average temperature: 22C. Cold maceration for 5 days. Average maceration 23 days. 30% whole bunch. French oak barrels 2nd and 3rd use. 5 different harvest times (1,5 month between the first and the last one).

Aging
15 months in 100-year-old foudre.

Alcohol: 13.5% vol
Acidity / pH: 6.4 / 3.05
Partner and Winemaker: Alejandro Vigil Bodega Aleanna.