James Suckling (95)

Attractively briny nose with some cooked lemons, hot stone minerals, yeast, juniper and a hint of bread crust and almonds. Full-bodied yet bright and slightly phenolic on the palate with excellent freshness and power. Transparent, dry and saline in the finish. Delicious and super drinkable. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (97)

A refined, medium-to full-bodied red with aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate, violets, tar and tobacco. Ultra fine tannins, interwoven with silky and seamless layers of dark berries. So elegant and fine. Long. Serious and focused with fantastic depth and structure. Drink or hold.

Each case contains one bottle of each:

El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Agrelo 2016 (1x75cl)
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Chacayes 2016 (1x75cl)
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo El Cepillo 2016 (1x75cl)
El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2016 (1x75cl)

James Suckling (99)

Such impressive, rich aromas of berries, cherries and plums with blackberries and violets, too. An enticing fusion of freshness and deep intensity. The palate has a super succulent and contained feel with immaculately smooth, plush tannins. So long, pure and full of life. Like a top St.-Emilion! Cabernet franc with 15% malbec. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (98+)

The layered and complex 2019 Gran Enemigo El Cepillo Single Vineyard has an expressive nose with a mixture of curry, nutmeg, aromatic herbs and dried flowers, perfumed and expressive. The vineyard was planted in 2000 with Cabernet Franc and some 15% Malbec that fermented in concrete and a 2,000-liter oak vat with indigenous yeasts and with 50% full clusters. This bottling is always very distinct, with incredible aromatics, a medium to full-bodied palate, 13.5% alcohol and very good freshness. It's vibrant and finishes dry and with a salty twist. 7,200 bottles were filled in July 2020.

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (100)

I was really looking forward to tasting the 2013 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard since all of the previous vintages have been truly exceptional, and I wanted to see what it would be in a cooler year. The bottled wine contains perhaps 15% Malbec in the blend, and they will soon stop mentioning Cabernet Franc on the label. It fermented in 500-liter oak barrels with 50% of the Cabernet Franc and all of the Malbec and then matured in used oak foudres. It's very intense and powerful, but at the same time, there is a kind of lightness on the palate that makes if feel light on its feet but with great inner power. There is citrus acidity that makes it effervescent and electric. It has some 7.5 grams of acidity and a pH of 3.45, very healthy parameters. The peppery character appears after some time, giving it a Chinon-like twist, and it also reminds me of my favorite Bordeaux, Pomerol's Lafleur. This is definitely world-class and worth lying down, as it should develop further complexity in bottle. This is one of those wines where the only improvement I can think of is having magnums rather than bottles. Bravo! Some 3,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2016.

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (100)

I was really looking forward to tasting the 2013 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard since all of the previous vintages have been truly exceptional, and I wanted to see what it would be in a cooler year. The bottled wine contains perhaps 15% Malbec in the blend, and they will soon stop mentioning Cabernet Franc on the label. It fermented in 500-liter oak barrels with 50% of the Cabernet Franc and all of the Malbec and then matured in used oak foudres. It's very intense and powerful, but at the same time, there is a kind of lightness on the palate that makes if feel light on its feet but with great inner power. There is citrus acidity that makes it effervescent and electric. It has some 7.5 grams of acidity and a pH of 3.45, very healthy parameters. The peppery character appears after some time, giving it a Chinon-like twist, and it also reminds me of my favorite Bordeaux, Pomerol's Lafleur. This is definitely world-class and worth lying down, as it should develop further complexity in bottle. This is one of those wines where the only improvement I can think of is having magnums rather than bottles. Bravo! Some 3,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2016.

Wine Advocate (99)

The nose of the 2016 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard transported me back to the classical wines from the Bordeaux of yesteryear, with austerity and with no room for sweetness or creamy texture. This is about chalk and umami, salty and tasty, with the clout and wilderness of Gualtallary; its electric freshness and fine tannins; the expression of Cabernet Franc (with some Merlot) in the poor, stony and limestone-rich soils from the high-altitude vineyards; and the intensity this altitude provides, as there is a strong impact from the light in the grapes. But the one thing that I liked the most about this 2016 was its balance and the way it feels light but has tremendous concentration and power, light on its feet with masses of inner strength. It's nuanced and complex, even if it's terribly young. With time in the glass, it developed notes of orange peel that spoke of freshness, and the palate is sharp and direct, with symmetry and precision. This is approachable now but should live forever in bottle.

James Suckling (100)

A complex, restrained and deliciously austere cabernet franc with damp earth, oyster shells, blueberries, thyme, rosemary and mushrooms. Super serious and chalky on the palate with lots of dissolved, minerally-textured tannins. Very long and uncompromising! An incredible cabernet franc from Gualtallary by Alejandro Vigil. Extremely pure, mineral and seductive. A fabulous cabernet franc that grows on the palate with remarkable tension and texture. I’d want to drink a bottle now even it can hold extremely well.

Wine Advocate (100)

I was really looking forward to tasting the 2013 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard since all of the previous vintages have been truly exceptional, and I wanted to see what it would be in a cooler year. The bottled wine contains perhaps 15% Malbec in the blend, and they will soon stop mentioning Cabernet Franc on the label. It fermented in 500-liter oak barrels with 50% of the Cabernet Franc and all of the Malbec and then matured in used oak foudres. It's very intense and powerful, but at the same time, there is a kind of lightness on the palate that makes if feel light on its feet but with great inner power. There is citrus acidity that makes it effervescent and electric. It has some 7.5 grams of acidity and a pH of 3.45, very healthy parameters. The peppery character appears after some time, giving it a Chinon-like twist, and it also reminds me of my favorite Bordeaux, Pomerol's Lafleur. This is definitely world-class and worth lying down, as it should develop further complexity in bottle. This is one of those wines where the only improvement I can think of is having magnums rather than bottles. Bravo!

1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2011 – 98 points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2012 – 98+ points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2013 – 100 points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2014 – 98 points (WA)

El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Gualtallary is a single vineyard (Gualtallary) production combining Cabernet Franc (dominant) and Malbec. After near misses in 2011 and 2012 in 2013 this amazing duo of winemakers produced the perfect wine in 2013. Wine Advocate critic Luis Gutiérrez said the 2013 reminded him of Pomorol’s Lafleur and was “definitely world class” and “worth laying down”. The 2013 has a drinking window to 2030 and all these wines will benefit from a decade of aging. Only around 3,000 bottles are produced, of this incredible wine (far less than wines like Screaming Eagle at 5,000-9,000).

The super high scores and tiny production mean that this is a lovely vertical for collectors or investors to own.

James Suckling (95)

This has rich, lemon and lightly grassy aromas in a very fresh, pure and focused mode. Some fresh-pastry and chalky notes, too. The palate is succulent and piercing. Some smooth, lees-derived texture sits nicely around the fresh, lemon flavor with pastry-like resolve. Impressive textural complexity really makes this special. Drink over the next six years.

Vinous (95)

(25 hectoliters per hectare): Full, dark red. Tight, primary, slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and minerals. Densely packed, rich and broad; a distinctly horizontal, pliant style of Clos Vougeot, no doubt a function of the very warm, sunny vintage. Today this is sweeter and more open-knit than the Grands-Echézeaux but both of these wines should easily age for two decades or more. (Mallard noted that on some days this wine comes across as stricter, more Cistercian.) Finishes with spicy, ripe tannins and terrific energy and length.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is well defined and precise, with cranberry, raspberry and vibrant red cherry scents that soar from the glass. The oak here is very well assimilated. The well-balanced palate offers fine but firm tannins that frame the black cherry and raspberry fruit. Lovely tension and mineralité on the finish, which delivers just the right amount of spice and length. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Wine Advocate (92-94+)

The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru is a great success, unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, wild berries, rich soil tones and espresso roast, framed by a lavish but nicely integrated touch of toasty new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with a generous core of ripe but juicy fruit, concluding with an expansive, saline finish. While this is quite giving and charming by the standards of the appellation, it's the most concentrated wine in the Eugénie portfolio this year, and will likely prove the longest lived.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

The king of the cellar chez Coche this year is the 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes, a beautiful wine that unfurls in the glass with scents of white peach, oatmeal, spring flowers and subtle spices. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and satiny, with a deep, concentrated core, lovely purity and a bright, precise finish. This is a classic in the making that will reward cellaring.

Vinous (88-90)

The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Vergers 1er Cru just misses the mineralité expressed by other cuvées on the nose - a little one-dimensional by comparison. The palate is better with fine "bite" on the entry, moderate depth, perhaps just needing a little more precision on the finish.

Vinous (95)

The 2016 La Grande Rue Grand Cru has a very pure, almost pastille-like bouquet with copious red cherry fruit mixed with crushed strawberry and a little cassis. La Grande Rue? [Post script: Bingo!] The palate is very pretty with fine-grain tannin. This is surfeit with freshness and vitality, although it does not quite have the depth and structure of other Grand Crus from the appellation. It does fan out towards the finish. The persistence, and the saline aftertaste are very appealing. Excellent. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 La Grande Rue has a deep, introspective bouquet, offering more black fruit than red; touches of oyster shell and seaweed percolate through with time. The palate is where the quality shines through, in the filigreed tannins and the wonderful sense of symmetry. Fresh as a daisy without compromising intensity, especially on the pixelated finish, which seems to go on forever. Brilliant. This far exceeded my expectations. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Indulge your senses with Geantet Pansiot Vosne-Romanee 2017, a premium offering from the renowned Burgundy vineyards of France. Exceptionally crafted by the illustrious Geantet Pansiot family, who have been honing their winemaking skills since 1954, this wine masterfully captures the delicate balance between tradition and innovation. The climate, predominantly Continental, and the limestone-clay soils of Vosne-Romanee impart distinctive characteristics to this wine.

Authentic to its roots, the Geantet Pansiot Vosne-Romanee 2017 showcases intricate layers of cherry, dark berries and violets, embraced by silky tannins and a lean mineral thread. Exceptional ageing potential adds to its appeal. Utilising organic farming methods, the grapes were handpicked at their peak of ripeness and aged in French oak barrels, resulting in a sophisticated wine that speaks volumes of its terroir. Experience the culmination of heritage, passion and finesse with the Geantet Pansiot Vosne-Romanee 2017.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots wraps around the palate with layers of black fruit, spices and menthol. It shows fabulous depth and richness in a relatively full-bodied, opulent style for the domaine. It comes across as quite open and ready for business, although it is hard for me to see this not shutting down in bottle.

Much more deftly concentrated on the nose but the fruit remains lithe and light rather than thick. Nice acidity and tannic structure but still classic. A fine 1er Cru for sure and one for a long time. Still a fairly muted 18 but a pretty and well integrated nose that is not overtly oak laden. Rich and sensual style across the supple palate.

The divine Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Vv Rouge 2019 is elaborated through the authentic French savoir-faire. This cherished wine originates from the celebrated vineyards of Chassagne-Montrachet in the heart of Burgundy, France. Possessing four generations of wine mastery, Guy Amiot, along with his son, Thierry Amiot, craft wines that are emblematic of their terroir with a precise balance of tradition and innovation. This remarkable wine, cultivated with diligence in 2019, exhibits an exquisite harmony of ripe, dark fruits and rich, spicy undertones, whilst maintaining an enticing, vibrant acidity.

Burgundy’s limestone-rich soils contribute to the unmistakable minerality in this sophisticated wine. The grapes are meticulously harvested by hand to ensure only peak quality. True to Burgundian style, this wine matures in oak barrels, a detail that imparts a complex aroma and lush palate. Favourably reviewed in trusted wine publications, the Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Vv Rouge 2019 is a testament to artisanal winemaking.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

Aromas of wild berries, rose petals, orange peel, spices and plums introduce Guyon's 2019 Bourgogne Pinot Noir, a medium-bodied, bright and velvety wine that's lively, charming and perfumed. This is a fine cuvée in the making and will be worth consideration.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

The 2019 Chorey-lès-Beaune Les Bons Ores is shaping up very nicely, unfurling with aromas of raspberries, sweet berries and plums complemented by hints of rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's fleshy and charming, with fine depth at the core and a seamless, elegant profile. I can't think of many wines from this appellation operating at this level.