El Enemigo (Aleanna), Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, T_ 2011

The 2010 was a hard act to follow, and the 2011 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard had to fulfill great expectations. There is less color in this 2011 (I popped a bottle of the 2010 for comparison) and more notes reminiscent of Cabernet Franc (Alejandro Vigil harvested even earlier in 2010), because it is mostly Cabernet Franc from a very chalky vineyard in Gualtallary at 1,430 meters altitude that fermented together with a small percentage of Malbec. 50% of the volume was fermented with destemmed Cabernet Franc and full-cluster Malbec. The grapes from the most calcareous soils underwent a carbonic maceration in small bins, and after one week they are pressed and the juice finishes fermenting as if it were a white wine. The texture is very fine and the acidity seems like if it had a timer and shoots a second later than you expect it, creating a small explosion in your taste buds. That provides a very long aftertaste and almost citric flavors with a mineral, almost salty finish. At the end of the day this feels lighter but at the same time more complex than the 2010. If you want to understand what Gualtallary can do, find a bottle of this wine. It's drinkable now, but it should have a long life in bottle. At this quality level the price seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, only 3,400 bottles were produced.

Bright medium ruby. High-pitched perfume of blueberry, violet and mint. Then wonderfully ripe and dense, showing an almost grapey urgency and terrific clarity to the crushed blackberry and spice flavors. Bracing acidity gives this savory, slightly medicinal wine an almost painful intensity. Splendid, savory New World Cabernet Franc with outstanding energy and lift. These vines are planted at about 4,400 feet.

(includes 15% Malbec): Bright medium ruby. High-pitched perfume of blueberry, violet and mint. Then wonderfully ripe and dense, showing an almost grapey urgency and terrific clarity to the crushed blackberry and spice flavors. Bracing acidity gives this savory, slightly medicinal wine an almost painful intensity. Splendid, savory New World Cabernet Franc with outstanding energy and lift. These vines are planted at about 4,400 feet.