El Enemigo : Gran Enemigo "Gualtallary" 2022

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Gran Enemigo "Gualtallary" 2022 by El Enemigo

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a rich, deep purple colour, enhanced by a particularly brilliant rim.

Nose
Highly complex, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of mountain herbs, sage and dill. It then reveals delicate aromas of red fruit, redcurrant, blue fruit and violet, lifted by a subtle peppery touch.

Palate
The palate offers a texture that is at once airy, juicy and delicate. Carried by vibrant acidity and finely sculpted tannins, it stands out for its crystalline precision and saline tension, stretching into an intensely mineral, chalky finish.

Food and wine pairing
This cuvée pairs beautifully with high-quality red meats, such as thin slices of lightly seared beef, dry-aged cuts or a traditional asado. It also goes very well with creative dishes such as roasted root vegetables and grilled mushrooms, as well as fine poultry and game.

Serving and cellaring
Blessed with exceptional ageing potential, this Gran Enemigo "Gualtallary" 2022 can be cellared for several decades.

An exceptional Cabernet Franc from the Argentine heights of Mendoza by El Enemigo

The estate
Born in 2009 from a stroll along the banks of the Thames, the El Enemigo estate is the fruit of the shared passion of Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena, its current owners. Located in the Mendoza region of Argentina, the estate stands out for its determination to move away from commercial standards in order to create authentic wines. Far more than just a brand, the project revolves around Casa Vigil and the Vista Flores winery, and has become an essential reference for its high-altitude cuvées, combining Europe's winemaking heritage with the unique identity of Andean terroirs.

The vineyard
The vines that produce this cuvée are located in Gualtallary, in the Tupungato sub-region at the heart of the Uco Valley, in Mendoza. Planted at an altitude of 1,470 metres, this extreme terroir boasts a very high planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The soils, of oceanic origin, are limestone and stony for the Cabernet Franc, while the Malbec thrives on deeper limestone soils, fostering a very pronounced minerality.

The vintage
2022 is considered an exceptional year in the region. The weather conditions yielded remarkable concentration, optimal polyphenolic ripeness and perfect acidity, while maintaining moderate alcohol levels. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil even describes it as the best vintage he has ever experienced.

Winemaking and ageing
The making of Gran Enemigo "Gualtallary" 2022 favours a gentle approach to preserve the expression of the terroir. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats at an average temperature of 23°C, with 40% whole bunches. The process includes a four-day cold pre-fermentation maceration followed by a long, forty-day infusion with minimal movement. Finally, the wine is aged for fifteen months, exclusively in concrete vats.

Grape varieties
This blend is made up of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec.