2018 Gran Enemigo El Cepillo Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc Uco Valley 6pk 6x750ml

The nose of the 2018 Gran Enemigo El Cepillo Single Vineyard, from a low-yielding and drier year, is full of curry, a note that was a constant across the three vintages I tasted together, but it tends to be stronger in low-yielding and dry years like this. It's also floral and comes through as aromatic and a little exotic, in a good way, with elegance, persistence and very pure flavors. It has fine-grained tannins, great acidity and balance. 7,200 bottles. All these single-vineyard bottlings mature in ancient 4,000-liter oak foudres for some 15 months. ~97 Wine Advocate

Ripe plums, blackberries, dark cherries, pine cones, mint chocolate, cloves and dried herbs on the nose. Hints of black pepper, too. Medium-bodied with fine, well-integrated tannins. There’s a dark spiciness to this. Well structured and muscular with fantastic intensity. Try in 2024. ~97 James Suckling

There is a hint of the characteristic Malbec sweetness in this example from El Cepillo, located at the southern end of the Uco Valley. Yet, that is all it is—just a hint. The acidity is dense and penetrating; it engages with the flavors, lending them vigor and freshness while simultaneously tempering the inherent sweetness of grapes grown under the Uco desert sun, thereby minimizing that sugary note and allowing the red wine to feel refreshing. Of course, there is more to it than just acidity and fruit; one also detects herbal and floral notes, as well as sweet spices. It is a fresh, intense, and linear wine that is ready to drink now, though we believe it likely has the potential to evolve—in terms of both flavor and texture—for another five to ten years. ~97 Descorchados

Pretty and inviting on the nose with gorgeous aromas of floral violet, cassis and completed with a lifted, delicate liquorice note. The palate is graced with deep herb, pepper, crunchy red fruit and graceful, silky tannins. ~97 Decanter