2017 Bodegas Aleanna "El Enemigo" Malbec Mendoza
SKU #1502910
94 points
Vinous
Made with grapes from Gualtallary and aged for 15 months in old foudres, this Malbec, mixed with 10% Cabernet Franc, is proof of the beauty of the combination: the Franc lends the Malbec greater discipline and depth. Bright purple in the glass. The nose offers fresh cherries and plums with aromas of thyme. Gentle in the mouth, delivering fine, subtle tannins that lend framework, all with a genial freshness that brings the flavors to life and pleasantly stretches out the slightly taut palate. A delicious wine. (JH)
(10/2020)
92 points
James Suckling
Love the blackberry, flower and orange-peel character. Medium body, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. This is real Malbec. Total whole-berry fermentation gives this freshness and brightness. Tension to the very friendly fruit at the end.
(4/2020)
92 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 El Enemigo Malbec has 10% Cabernet Franc and fermented with 50% full clusters and indigenous yeasts, then matured in oak foudres for 15 months. The oak is perfectly integrated into the fruit, and the wine comes through as floral and fruit-driven, elegant, with moderate ripeness, focused and clean flavors and very round tannins. It's long and tasty. (LG) 92+
(10/2019)
91 points
Wine & Spirits
Adrianna Catena joined forces with Alejandro Vigil, the head winemaker at Catena Zapata, to create this label in 2009. Their goal was to meld modern winemaking techniques with older traditions, like fermenting with ambient yeasts in cement tanks, as they did for a portion of this wine. The brightness and verve of the blend lasts past the smoke of the oak and brings a sense of freshness to the blackberry flavors. It’s modern but balanced, especially if there’s a double-cut pork chop on hand.
(10/2020)
91 points
Wine Spectator
Explosively fruity and filled with toasty accents to raspberry, baked cherry and red currant flavors. Hot stone and underbrush on the enveloping finish. (KM)
(12/2020)
K&L Notes
93 points Tim Atkin "The El Enemigo Malbec contains 10% Cabernet Franc - Ale Vigil is a master at blending the two varieties - and all comes from bony soils in Gualtallary in the upper part of the Uco Valley. Fermented with 50% whole bunches, this is all about fruit and flavour rather than wood, with real zip, freshness and vibrancy, chalky minerality and fine-grained tannins."
