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

98 WA / 97 VM / 96 JS / 18.5 JR

One of the finest and more regular wines from Argentina, the 2018 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard is austere and shows restraint, with great freshness and gobsmacking balance and complexity, but in the context of the 2019 and 2020 vintages that I also tasted next to it, it comes thorough as slightly less refined but still with 13.5% alcohol and with very good parameters of acidity and freshness. It has a medium-bodied palate and a rare combination of power and elegance, with very fine, chalky tannins. It's very long and has a salty and tasty finish. It matured in centenary oak foudres for 15 months. 9,000 bottles were filled in July 2019.-Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate

The 2018 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary also contains 15% Malbec, both from Gualtallary, Uco Valley, and spent 18 months in barrels. Purple in the glass. The vivid nose offers herbs, mint, red fruit, hints of plum and blackberry, lavender and touches of bell pepper and bay leaf rounded o by spicy aromas. In the mouth it’s broad with a layer of freshness and chalky tannins. Compact with a rm, juicy structure, it delivers good complexity and tension before the languorous, fruity finish.-Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Media

Aromas of violets, almond blossoms, wild blackberries, blueberries, ash, tea leaves and nutmeg. It’s medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and finely knit tannins. Mineral, tea-like edge, supporting a fresh core of blue fruit. Refined and subtle, yet comforting. Try from 2023.-James Suckling

Tasted blind. NHB. Dark, lustrous crimson – very different from the previous wine of this pair tasted blind (Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny 2018)! Smells just like a caramel! Inky and concentrated with real energy to it. Really nothing like the previous wine! But a great, vigorous, youthful wine with admirable balance and potential. Quite a bit of tannin.-Jancis Robinson