Winemaker Notes
El Enemigo Cabernet Franc delivers aromas of juicy plums, raspberries, ripe currants, cassis, black pepper, clove, and tobacco leaves. It is elegant and balanced with flavors of cedar and vanilla. This Cabernet Franc is medium-bodied with excellent structure, supple tannins, and a creamy, vibrant, fresh palate. Certified Sustainable by Bodegas de Argentina.
Pair El Enemigo Cabernet Franc with smoky barbecue, rich lentil stew, herb roasted pork, or eggplant parmesan.
Professional Ratings
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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.
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Robert 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.
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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.
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose has floral aromas and a trace of oak spices. This vintage shows a ripe palate, with leafy flavors and ripe fruit in the form of plums and figs. It's soft and balanced and finishes with pleasant spicy notes.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.