El Enemigo Gran Enemigo El Cepillo Single Vineyard 2018 (750ML)

97 WA / 97 JS / 94 VM

The nose of the 2018 Gran Enemigo El Cepillo Single Vineyard, from a low-yielding and drier year, is full of curry, a note that was a constant across the three vintages I tasted together, but it tends to be stronger in low-yielding and dry years like this. It's also floral and comes through as aromatic and a little exotic, in a good way, with elegance, persistence and very pure flavors. It has fine-grained tannins, great acidity and balance. 7,200 bottles. All these single-vineyard bottlings mature in ancient 4,000-liter oak foudres for some 15 months.- Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate

Ripe plums, blackberries, dark cherries, pine cones, mint chocolate, cloves and dried herbs on the nose. Hints of black pepper, too. Medium-bodied with fine, well-integrated tannins. There’s a dark spiciness to this. Well structured and muscular with fantastic intensity. Try in 2024.—James Suckling

The 2018 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard El Cepillo contains 15% Malbec, both from El Cepillo, Uco Valley, and was aged for 18 months in foudres. A vivid purple in hue. The nose presents lively notes of ash, mint and blackcurrant along with subtle aromas from the aging process and hints of herb, earth and sour cherry. Indulgent with a mild flow and a taut expression, it’s juicy with good volume and a long, vivid finish. - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Media