el enemigo gran enemigo gualtallary 2019 Cabernet Franc

100 point wines are exceptionally rare. DOUBLE 100 wines? Outside of Burgundy or Bordeaux? Essentially unheard of–and rightfully so, they should be unicorns. So, when the Gran Enemigo single vineyard Cabernet Franc won two 100-point ratings, I had to check it out.

Before even opening the bottle, the indicators of what is in the bottle are clear. The bottle itself is made of high-quality, thick glass. Why? Wines that are made to lay down and age are put into thicker glass to ensure the environment inside the bottle remains ideal for aging. Needless to say between that and the tight, high-quality cork, I was excited to discover what waited in the bottle.

As excited as I was, there was a bit of healthy skepticism. A double 100 wine is just not something you come across often, and I was curious to understand how that came to pass and if the wine really was as exceptional as the reviews indicated.

The short answer? This wine is exceptional. It is well-constructed. It can age well. It is worth its price.

The wine is a brighter purple than one might expect for this caliber of red but the purple remains true to its varietal. On the nose, a well-balanced bouquet of plum, macerated bing cherry, berry compote, and hints of anise and five spice come through. Its youth is apparent, and with a bit of air, it really opened up. Some herb stem notes were also present and rounded the nose out beautifully.

On the palette, the wine is round, youthful, and fruit-forward. No significant presence of oak. Tannins are resolved and well integrated. Acid is balanced, if not a little forward as this bottle could stand to age.

This is a delicious wine. Exceptionally constructed, this could definitely drink now, but I think with 3-5 years of additional age this wine will absolutely stun. I would pair with pork sauce in pan jus, beef roast, or sweet potato fries.

Stars: 4.5

Well-Made Wine: Yes, but…

Yes, this wine’s construction is excellent. However, this wine is not quintessential of its varietal. The Cabernet Franc is a little lost. 1/2 stars.

Worth it: Yes

At just over $100, this wine may not be your everyday bottle but it's certainly one for those special occasions. 1 star

Notable: Yes.

The winemakers involved are royalty of Argentinian wine and this is one of their flagship bottles.

Rarity: Yes

This is a single-varietal, single-vineyard, high-altitude wine. These are difficult to produce let alone bring this type of stunning bottle to market. 1 star

Age-ability: Absolutely!

But I don’t think this sits in your cellar for 20 years. I’d age 3-5 years. 1 star