B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
"I found these firmly among Argentina's most exciting wines, cementing [Cabernet Franc's] rightful place alongside Malbec as a vehicle for expressing the Uco Valley." - Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate
El Enemigo is easily one of the most exciting projects in South American wine over the past decade. The brainchild of Adrianna Catena and Alejandro Vigil (Catena's long-time winemaker) has racked up a dizzying array of huge scores and accolades over their relatively short time in the spotlight, and they're doing it at every point in the price spectrum and with outside-the-box offerings that only add to the singular appeal of the estate's range.
Case in point is this pair of back-to-back tete de cuvee masterpieces from their Gran Enemigo line of single-vineyard Cabernet Francs. Sure, Malbec may still be king in Argentina, but these wines redefining the luxury collectible category in Argentina in absolutely stunning fashion. There are four single-vineyard expressions in the Gran Enemigo category, but among them, Gualtallary is "the supreme example" according to Matthew Luczy, and the twin-titan, 99-point 2020 and 2021 show exactly why.
Both vintages showcase the wine's inimitable balance, which places it almost in a class of its own. The 2020 is "light on its feet and with great inner power" according to Luis Gutierrez of Wine Advocate. Regarding the 2021, Vinous' Eric Guido likewise muses, "Is it possible to create a wine with structure but without weight? The 2021 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Gualtallary offers a remarkable answer to that apparent paradox." Gutierrez' Wine Advocate colleague Matthew Luczy notes its "incomparable finesse, depth and complexity" to further emphasize the 2021 as a singular achievement.
For any serious collector of the world's finest wines, this pair is a sure bet to add a whole new dimension to your cellar. |