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2018 Gran Enemigo Red Blend
Blend: 50% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot
Vineyard: Gualtallary, Tupungato at 1470m elevation
£185.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£238.07 Duty & VAT paid
£65.00 per 1 Mag, in bond
£83.35 Duty & VAT paid
£130.00 per 1 DMag, in bond
£177.72 Duty & VAT paid
Very rich and plush. Fresh and ripe with supple tannins. Fruitcake. Concentrated core. Harmonious. Now-8+
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
Blending is second nature to Alejandro Vigil, so it’s no surprise that this assemblage of Malbec with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot is so seamless and selfassured. Elegant, perfumed and intense, it combines cassis and blackberry fruit with finegrained tannins and impressive palate length.
95 points Tim Atkin MW
Currants, blackberries, blueberries, lemon zest, thyme, green olives and licorice on the nose. Cardamom and iodine, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, plush tannins. There’s a delicious savory and salty quality to the ripe dark fruit. Textured and complex. Drink from 2023.
96 points James Suckling
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2018 Gran Enemigo Agrelo
Blend: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec:
Vineyard: Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo at 930m elevation
£265.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£334.07 Duty & VAT paid
£95.00 per 1 Mag, in bond
£119.35 Duty & VAT paid
£190.00 per 1 DMag, in bond
£238.72 Duty & VAT paid
A little more expressive on the nose. Pomelo, passion fruit and rose water. Sensual and seductive. Vibrant end lifted. Lighter than the other three. Long perfumed finish. Bursting with summer pudding flavours. Fine tannins. Excellent balance. Mineral. 2-20
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
In common with all the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard reds, this is a cuvée of Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec. Plush, ripe and smooth, it seems more full-bodied than its stated 13.5% alcohol, with lots of colour, fleshy tannins, blackberry and orange zest flavours, fine oak and a lift of refreshing acidity.
93 points Tim Atkin MW
Fresh raspberries, boysenberries, blueberries, pine needles, thyme, sandalwood and cloves on the nose. Medium-bodied with a very fine, precise tannin frame. Focused, compact and still so youthful. More mineral and dried-spice notes on the finish. Still tightly wound. Try after 2023.
97 points James Suckling
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2018 Gran Enemigo El Cepillo
Blend: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec:
Vineyard: Pampa El Cepillo, San Carlos at 1300m elevation
Platinum Award, Decanter World Wine Awards
£265.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£334.07 Duty & VAT paid
£95.00 per 1 Mag, in bond
£119.35 Duty & VAT paid
£190.00 per 1 DMag, in bond
£238.72 Duty & VAT paid
Restrained rose perfume and ripe black cherry. Succulent ripe red cherries and berries. Powerful concentration but plenty of freshness. Velvet fist iron glove. Firm grip. Strawberry cheesecake. 2-20
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
Alejandro Vigil sources this 85/15 cuvée of Cabernet Franc and Malbec from one the last vineyards at the southern end of the Uco Valley, located on a slope to reduce the frost risk. Racy, focused and beautifully defined, with chalky freshness and minerality, subtle graphite and mangetout notes and a plum and black cherry palate.
96 points Tim Atkin MW
Pretty and inviting on the nose with gorgeous aromas of floral violet, cassis and completed with a lifted, delicate liquorice note. The palate is graced with deep herb, pepper, crunchy red fruit and graceful, silky tannins.
97 points (Platinum Award) Decanter World Wine Awards
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.
97 points James Suckling
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2018 Gran Enemigo Chacayes
Blend: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec:
Vineyard: Los Chacayes, Tunuyan at 1100m elevation
£265.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£334.07 Duty & VAT paid
£95.00 per 1 Mag, in bond
£119.35 Duty & VAT paid
£190.00 per 1 DMag, in bond
£238.72 Duty & VAT paid
Muted initially then raspberry cream and mocha. Super-concentrated. Intense black cherry and bitter chocolate. Saline focus. Bold and structured. Polished and fresh. Needs time. 2-20
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
The Los Chacayes vineyards that supply this marriage of Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec are located at 1,100 metres and have produced a wine with abundant perfume, dried herb and blackcurrant pastille fruit, stylish oak and savoury, sinewy tannins.
94 points Tim Atkin MW
Blueberries, blackcurrants, hot stones, tobacco leaves, dried lavender, walnuts and cracked pepper on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Dark and mineral character to this. Solid, compact cabernet franc. Firm and savory finish. Try from 2024.
96 points James Suckling
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2018 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary
Blend: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec:
Vineyard: Gualtallary, Tupungato at 1470m elevation
£280.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£352.07 Duty & VAT paid
£100.00 per 1 Mag, in bond
£125.35 Duty & VAT paid
£200.00 per 1 DMag, in bond
£250.72 Duty & VAT paid
Subtle dark plum. Plush and broad. Plum pudding. Succulently juicy. Perfumed brambles. Refined and elegant. Dark chocolate and nuts on he long finish. Energy and complexity. 2-20
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
The richest, darkest and most profound of the Gran Enemigo blends, this classic assemblage of Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec is inky, intense and alluringly scented, with subtle wood, blackberry, black olive and wild thyme flavours and racy, chalky acidity.
96 points Tim Atkin MW
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.
96 points James Suckling
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2019 Gran Enemigo Torrontes
Blend: 100% Torrontes:
Vineyard: Gualtallary, Tupungato at 1600m elevation
£140.00 per 3 Bot Case, in bond
£176.04 Duty & VAT paid
'White Wine Discovery of the Year', Tim Atkin MW, 2022 Argentina Report.
Fresh pea shoot aromatic. Bone dry. Fragrant greengage. Lots of minerality. Structured and austere. Crisp acidity. Crunchy green apple. Now-8+
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
We want to change perceptions of Torrontés,” says Alejandro Vigil, who sources this chiselled, almost Rheingau Riesling-like white from a seven-year-old pergola at 1,600 metres in Gualtallary. Mineral-edged, taut and refined, with lime and white flower notes, stony intensity and thrilling palate length.
95 points Tim Atkin MW
Pretty, perfumed nose of white lavender, honeysuckle, peaches, orange blossom, white pears, lemon pith and blanched almonds. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity. Lots of lightly bitter floral and citrus-pith character. Serious, dry torrontes.
94 points James Suckling
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El Enemigo is a romantic winery at heart. The concept was born September 2009 as Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena walked back from the Argentine Embassy in London, where Nicolas Catena had just received the Decanter Man of the Year Award. Adrianna, a historian, and Alejandro, a soils engineer, spoke of their shared love of philosophy, wine and history – so they decided to create wines together in reflection of this. Not that their respect for tradition means they stick within its limits, following the status quo has never been El Enemigo’s bag.
The fruit of their labour is quite brilliant. Alejandro holds the highest rating ever given to a pure Cabernet Franc wine by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, awarded to El Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc from Gualtallary, Mendoza. The 100 year old Alsatian foudres (barrels) they use originally came from Italy, but were then re-toasted and reassembled in Mendoza. The gentleness of this wood brings out the true character of cool climate Cabernet Franc; elegant and age-worthy.
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