Gran Enemigo 2016

A blend of 50% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, aged in barrels and foudres. Bright purple in the glass. The intense, complex nose delivers bold notes of plum, black currant, blackberry, blueberry and orange zest plus a hint of pyrazine, followed by layers of roasted red pepper, oaky spices and herbs. A profound wine with lively but gentle tannins, firm acidity (pH 3.45) and good body. Lengthy, complex finish. All the different flavors of Mendoza combined.

Score: 95

Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2032 01 October 2020

The varietal blend of the 2016 Gran Enemigo is slightly different from the 2015 I tasted next to it; here, there's a bit more Cabernet Franc and less Cabernet Sauvignon, so 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Malbec, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot; but the wine was produced exactly the same: vinification (wild fermentation, shortish maceration) and élevage (in large used French oak vats), so what we see here are the differences provided by the year. 2016 was a very unusual vintage, when they saw more rain than ever (they didn't irrigate the vineyards), and the average temperature was much lower. It was not an easy year, especially in the classical zone of Mendoza, but in Gualtallary, where these grapes come from, it was a truly excellent harvest, one of the best in recent times (until 2018 came).

Score: 97

Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2030 31 October 2019