Winemaker Notes
This wine pairs well with grilled meat, cheese, or slow roasted beef dishes.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very tight and beautiful wine with blackberry, blueberry and hints of tobacco, spice, and black tea. Full body, dense and powerful. Energy and intensity to this. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and malbec.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Gran Enemigo is a blend with a lot more Cabernet Franc, quite different from the 2012. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. The nose is a bit blurry, with dusty aromas, spices and aromatic herbs, but the palate is a lot more focused and has very good freshness.
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Wine Enthusiast
Chunky, earthy aromas of balsam wood, finely aged balsamic vinegar and stewed blackberry yield to a tight drawing palate with hard tannins. This tastes meaty, roasted and more aggressive than El Enemigos lower-elevation 2013s. A finish with salty toasty oaky notes, big tannins and blazing acidity closes the show."
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Wine Spectator
Concentrated red berry and plum flavors are supported by fresh acidity in this balanced red, accented by a savory herbal note. The finish offers a minerally freshness, with some white pepper and chocolate mousse details. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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.