The El Enemigo 2021 El Barranco Single Vineyard Bonarda is 85% Bonarda and 15% Cabernet Franc aged for 15 months in old French foudres.
Aroma: Huge black and red fruit particularly blueberry and blackberry complimented by blueberry pie and a smidge of dark chocolate.
Palate: With such mega fruit is the wine jammy? No spin out of control into jamland. You can feel the fruit omnipresent on the palate snug and cozy. Smooth yet just enough acid to make it fresh but not perky! The tannins hit broadly and gradually on a gentle but long finish.
Personality: I am lush and plush but with a strong sense of discipline.
Food Match: Grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce with a red onion salad on the side.
Cellarbility: If you have a cellar this wine will age well and is case worthy. Will evolve nicely through to 2032 but eminently drinkable presently.
Comments from the Peanut Gallery: A rallying cry for Canadians in the face of repeated Trumpian insults towards Canada and its political leaders is “Elbows Up” a habit of nasty hockey players that elbow defenders in an aggressive manner and hopefully avoid an “elbowing penalty”. So patriotically we promote Ontario wines in the Province of Ontario but you would be hard pressed to find a quality rich red like this for its $27 price.
Price: $27 CDN.
RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 94/100.jamessuckling.com 95.
(El Enemigo El Barranco 2021 Single Vineyard Bonarda, El Enemigo, Mendoza, 750 mL, 13.5%)
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