El Enemigo Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2011

This wine is excellent with grilled meats and various cheeses.Winemaking is spread between the Catena family winery in the Uco Valley and Alejandro’s own barrel room in his garden of Chachingo - The Republic - where his young son rides a horse among olive trees and where dogs and chickens share the grounds with the Vigil family and the winery.

El Gran Enemigo SV Gualtallary shows a deep purple color with red highlights. Its aromas are intense and elegant. Cabernet Franc brings sweet spices, black pepper and light notes of eucalyptus and thyme. Malbec brings notes of ripe black fruits, blackberries and black cherries. The oak aging gives a touch of chocolate and vanilla to blend. The taste is complex, sweet impact with structured tannins, and a very long and persistent finish. This wine was made in honor of the old Pomerol style where Cabernet Franc was blended with the other Bordeaux varieties.

Adrianna Catena grew up drinking Old-World Bordeaux with her father.  She will never forget the first time dad got a shipment of wine from France, and opened a bottle of Cheval Blanc for her.  Alejandro Vigil served Angelica Zapata Cabernet Franc at his wedding.  It's as if both Alejandro and Adrianna were born with a taste for the peppery aromas, grainy tannins and freshness of this variety.

Fermentation in barrel, average temperature: 22ºC. Cold maceration for 5 days. Average maceration 23 days. 30% whole bunch. French oak barrels 2nd and 3rd use. Four different harvest times (1,5 month between the first and the last one).

The grapes are sourced from Gualtallary, limestone soils, round rocks and extreme high altitude - ideal for making a wine of elegance and ageability.