El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2022 (750ml)
Product price
$27.99
Description
El Enemigo's 2022 Cabernet Franc comes from Gualtallary, in Mendoza's high-altitude vineyard country. A 90/10 blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, it aged 15 months in a mix of large foudres, traditional barrels, and tank, then a 60-day maceration that built its structure without heaviness. The result is medium-bodied and approachable now, yet built to age.
The wine opens with soft ash, herbs, and rosehip, moving into dark fruit and floral notes on the palate. What strikes first is the mineral spine, a chalky, upright core that runs through the middle and defines the finish. The tannins are supple and unobtrusive, letting the fruit and acidity do the talking. There's juicy brightness here, a mouthwatering quality that keeps the wine feeling fresh and alive, with hints of pomegranate lingering at the end. This is a wine that tastes good now but has the acidity and firm structure to develop beautifully over time.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | Red |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Mendoza |
| Varietal | Cabernet Franc |
| Producer | El Enemigo |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2022 Cabernet Franc is high-toned, fresh, and mineral-driven, with supple tannin and unobtrusive oak. Medium-bodied, it's well put together and a screaming value for the modest price. This will age well given its natural mouthwatering acidity and firm structure; cellar through 2037. Translating as “The Enemy,” this is a partnership between winemaker Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena, a historian and sister of Laura and Ernesto (daughter of Nicolas). Started in 2008, two of the primary focuses are Cabernet Franc and Bonarda, in addition to Malbec and many other varieties, including stellar whites. Every bottle carries the quote, “At the end of the journey, we remember only one battle: the one we fought against ourselves, the one that defined us.”. (Jeb Dunnuck, May 2025)
The 2022 Cabernet Franc contains 10% Malbec from Gualtallary. This aged for 15 months in foudres (50%), barrels (25%) and tanks (25%). Its aromas include soft ash, herbs, oak and rosehip on the nose. This is dry and juicy, with gentle chalk and vibrant fruit on the palate. The finish reveals a touch of pomegranate.
Sourced from Gualtallary's Adrianna Vineyard, the 2022 Cabernet Franc contains 10% Malbec and underwent a 60-day maceration and aged for 15 months in a mix of foudre, barrique and tank. Opening with a dark-fruited, floral and spice-inflected nose, the palate offers dramatic richness tempered by a sturdy, upright, mineral-driven core. It concludes with an explosive, long and layered finish that balances vibrant energy and staining intensity. This is a strikingly overperforming example of the variety that should develop beautifully in the cellar.