El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2020

93 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Vinous – 93 Points, James Suckling

“One of the wines that has turned El Enemigo into a global phenomenon, this cleverly marketed Cabernet Franc includes 10% Malbec for an extra layer of complexity” -Tim Atkin, MW

Their 2020 Cabernet Franc embodies the spirit of the entire operation. As Parker’s Wine Advocate notes in their rave 93-point review, the 2020 vintage in Argentina was warm and dry, so the chances that this bottling would come out beaming with energy and perfect harmony would be pretty low. But as they wrote “the [2020] feels fresh and more harmonious than the two other vintages I tasted next to it, the cooler 2019 and 2021.”

The Wine Advocate was one of three expert reviewers who came in at 93 points for this beauty. James Suckling called out “firm and well-constructed tannins with a pretty long finish” in his review and Vinous deemed it “tightly structured and juicy thanks to its fine-grained tannins”. That’s ridiculously high praise for a Cab Franc that checks in under $30/bottle. 

Original price was: $28.00.Current price is: $23.00.

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93 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
Against all odds, the 2020 Cabernet Franc, from a warm and dry year, feels fresher and more harmonious than the two other vintages I tasted next to it, the cooler 2019 and 2021. It contains some 10% Malbec that fermented together with the Cabernet Franc, which feels very integrated and softened the tannins that feel velvety but without losing grip. It spent 15 months in ancient oak foudres, and the oak feels very integrated.

93 Points, Vinous
The 2020 Cabernet Franc incorporates a 10% touch of Malbec and originates from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. It underwent a 15-month aging process in used foudres. It’s a dark and intense purple color. The nose reveals notes of ashes and herbs, interwoven with a subtle hint of jalapeño, set against a backdrop of black fruit and cedar. Dry and delicately lean, the palate is tightly structured and juicy, thanks to its fine-grained tannins. The vibrant palate concludes with a lingering thyme finish.

93 Points, James Suckling
Fresh thyme and peppermint to the deep, spiced cherries, olives and roasted red chili. A hint of black beans, too. I like the texture and tension here with firm tannins on the broad, medium- to full-bodied palate. Firm and well-constructed tannins with a pretty long finish. Drink or hold.

El Enemigo, or “the enemy” in Spanish, has been one of the most captivating projects since it came to be a little over a decade ago. It’s a special collaboration between two Argentinian winemaking legends: Alejandro Vigil, the renowned chief winemaker at Catena Zapata, and Adrianna Catena. Adrianna is of course the daughter of Nicolas, a national winemaking hero, but her work as a viticulture expert especially in high-altitude vineyards has earned her plenty of solo notoriety.

The El Enemigo project leans into the rebellious nature of bucking traditional winemaking rules. The winery is in the Gualtallary in the Uco Valley where the elevation ranges from 3000-4000 feet above sea level. Here, the average annual temperature is only in the mid-50s, and there’s scarcely any rain – many have argued the conditions aren’t ideal for grape growing. Ale Vigil and Adrianna Catena proved them all wrong.

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