October 3, 2025
99 Point (WA) release of Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2021
Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2021 - Hot new release:
99 Points - Wine Advocate
“The palate follows suit with a rich, silky, refined and gently succulent energy, releasing into a graceful, dense and glacial conclusion that gives equal measure to vertical energy and horizontal richness. The finish slowly but steadily builds upon itself, revealing shimmering acidity and ultra-refined tannins with increased aeration. There is no better example of Cabernet Franc's suitability in the Uco Valley, a match rendered here with incomparable finesse, depth and complexity."
El Enemigo was founded by Adrianna Catena, daughter of the legendary Nicolás Catena, and Alejandro Vigil, one of Argentina’s most celebrated winemakers. Vigil, also Chief Winemaker at Catena Zapata, is renowned for his mastery of Mendoza’s terroirs and his relentless pursuit of excellence. His wines at El Enemigo have earned cult status, and such is his reputation in Argentina that he’s affectionately known as the “Messi of wine”, praise of the highest order.
While Catena Zapata is synonymous with Malbec, El Enemigo champions Cabernet Franc, proving its immense potential in Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. The Wine Advocate has even compared their style to old-school Right Bank Bordeaux, likening the previous 2019 vintage to Château Lafleur. As Matthew Luczy noted, El Enemigo is “firmly among Argentina's most exciting wines, cementing the variety's rightful place alongside Malbec as a vehicle for expressing the Uco Valley.”
The Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2021 embodies this philosophy, a breathtaking Cabernet Franc that scored 99 points from the Wine Advocate and 98 from Vinous. From calcareous soils at altitude, it marries brooding intensity with exquisite finesse. Blackberry, cassis, violets and mountain herbs lift from the glass, while the palate is silky, structured and mineral-driven, framed by chalky tannins and shimmering acidity. Graceful yet powerful, it has extraordinary ageing potential and ranks among Argentina’s greatest reds.
Despite huge critical acclaim, soaring demand, and extremely limited allocations, Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2021 remains an incredible bargain. Wines of this pedigree, precision, and scoring from Bordeaux or Napa would command significantly higher prices, making it a solid buy in the fine wine world.
With quantities scarce and collectors taking notice, this is a must-have for any serious Cabernet Franc lover. Secure your bottles while you can.
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2021
€87.50* inc VAT per bottle
99 Points | Wine Advocate
As difficult as it is to pick a winner between the Gualtallary and El Cepillo bottlings, the 2021 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard gets my nod as the supreme example of the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Cabernet Francs. It hails from a plot planted on calcareous rocky soils in 1995 with 10,000 vines per hectare, fermented with 40% whole bunches in barrique and underwent a 15-month élevage in 100-year-old foudre. Opening with a brooding, inward and quietly perfumed nose, its aromatic profile ceaselessly expands to encompass all manner of herbal and floral complexity, combining simmering intensity with supreme elegance. The palate follows suit with a rich, silky, refined and gently succulent energy, releasing into a graceful, dense and glacial conclusion that gives equal measure to vertical energy and horizontal richness. The finish slowly but steadily builds upon itself, revealing shimmering acidity and ultra-refined tannins with increased aeration. There is no better example of Cabernet Franc's suitability in the Uco Valley, a match rendered here with incomparable finesse, depth and complexity.
98 Points | Vinous
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, finding the solution in a balanced combination of terroir and careful cellar work. It's almost utopian—a mountain wine with the structure and character of high-altitude vineyards, yet with the agility and freshness of an oceanic red. Purple in hue, it opens with blackberry and plum, layered with mountain herbs, a hint of sour cherry, cassis and floral tones of violet and lavender. Dry and juicy, with a slightly compact feel, the wine glides across the palate with weightless grace, supported by fine, chalky tannins. This wine is a triumph.
98 points | James Suckling
Graphite and blueberries with hints of tar, dark earth and ink on the nose. Medium-bodied with a compact and polished palate that is like a tight ball of fine silk in texture. Very structured yet all in balance. Give it four or five years to come around. But you’ll be tempted to try it now.