El Enemigo : Gran Enemigo "El Cepillo" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for El Enemigo's Gran Enemigo "El Cepillo" 2022

Tasting Notes

Appearance
A deep robe revealing an intense purplish-red hue.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with intense notes of blackberry and black licorice, enhanced by hints of iodine, spice, and mountain herbs.

Palate
Both dense and remarkably refined, the palate reveals vibrant acidity and a deep mineral core. The tannins, though powerful, offer an elegant chalky texture, leading to a persistent finish that expresses the full authenticity of its terroir.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with chicken curry with spinach and rice, roasted meats, stuffed pasta, or spicy stews.

Serving and Aging

Built for long-term evolution, the Gran Enemigo "El Cepillo" 2022 boasts a solid structure that allows it to age magnificently in bottle for more than a decade.

The Pure Expression of High-Altitude Terroir in Mendoza by El Enemigo

The Estate

Born from a shared passion, the El Enemigo brand was officially founded in 2007. This wine project, located in the renowned region of Mendoza in Argentina, is led by its two current owners: Adrianna Catena and Alejandro Vigil, the latter also serving as winemaker. The estate stands out for its commitment to combining a rigorous scientific approach with a genuine expression of terroir. By exploring high-altitude landscapes, the estate has quickly built a strong international reputation, producing cuvées that faithfully reflect the identity and memory of their place of origin.

The Vineyard

The grapes come from the Cordón El Cepillo sector, located in San Carlos, in the southernmost part of the Uco Valley in Mendoza. Reaching an altitude of 1,300 meters, this extreme terroir is characterized by colluvial soils resting on a bed of marine limestone. The vines are planted at a high density of 8,000 vines per hectare, encouraging natural competition that concentrates aromas and preserves great freshness.

The Vintage

2022 is considered an exceptional year. The climatic conditions of this growing cycle allowed for remarkable berry concentration and optimal phenolic ripeness, while preserving ideal acidity and a perfectly balanced alcohol level.

Winemaking and Aging

The making of the Gran Enemigo "El Cepillo" 2022 begins with a five-day cold maceration. Fermentation then takes place in concrete tanks at an average temperature of 26 ºC, incorporating 30% whole clusters. Extraction is carried out through a gentle forty-day infusion with minimal intervention. Finally, the wine undergoes 15 months of aging, carried out exclusively in concrete tanks to preserve the purity of the fruit.

Grape Varieties

This cuvée is made from a blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec.