El Enemigo Single Vineyard ‘El Barranco’ Bonarda 2018 – 750ml Winebow

93pts James Suckling

A medium-to full-bodied, savory red with aromas of black currants, smoked meat, dried herbs and walnut husk. Firm, ripe tannins melt into a spicy core of dark fruit. Intense. Drink now.

91pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The deep purple 2018 Bonarda Single Vineyard El Barranco comes from a vineyard of that name in Junín, a classical zone of Mendoza where the grape thrives. It’s a textbook varietal example with elegant rusticity, some earthiness and grainy tannins, varietal, juicy and tasty. These are reds for food. It matured in centenary oak foudres for one year.

91pts Vinous

A profound violet colour with bluish hues. The nose is rich and complex with intense ripe blackberries, raspberries and black cherries, laced with dark chocolate, liqueur and typical Cabernet Franc notes of fresh, aromatic herbs. On the palate, a sweet entry leads to a wine packed with ripe red and black fruit mingled with subtle liquorice and vanilla. Finishes long and lingering with fresh, crisp acidity and soft, velvety.

Jancis Robinson

Deepish crimson. Smells really sweet-fruited and with some oak sweetness. Then a balancing freshness and the dry-textured tannins are a great foil to the fruit. Lovely, lovely tannins, so fine and so dry. It is the tannins that lift this wine. Long and fresh with masses of tension. 

Importer Notes

One of Argentina’s most acclaimed wineries, El Enemigo has rocketed to superstardom in just a few short vintages. El Enemigo is a joint venture of two big names in Argentine wine – Catena’s winemaker Alejandro Vigil and Dr Catena’s younger daughter, Adrianna. These two were drawn together by a passion for creating more approachable and mineral-driven wines that are expressive of the nuances of Mendoza’s special terroirs.

Setting out to achieve what the pioneers of Napa Valley did in the 1970s and 1980s, and creating new wines in tiny quantities with the highest possible quality and critical acclaim, they are one now among the leading wine names in the whole of Argentina. The scores they are producing for their wines have already created a cult-like following amongst knowledgeable collectors.