El Enemigo As Bravas Garnacha 2021

El Enemigo is the personal label of Alejandro Vigil, working in Maipú in the heart of Mendoza. This Garnacha is built for freshness rather than weight: at 12.1 percent alcohol it sits well below the regional norm, the result of picking earlier and letting the grape's natural perfume lead. Mendoza's high altitude and big diurnal swing are the key terroir factors, cold nights locking in acidity and aromatic lift while the dry, sunny days ripen the fruit cleanly. Garnacha is thin-skinned and pale, so a gentle extraction keeps tannin light and lets the redcurrant and blood-orange character show. Time in oak rounds the texture and adds a faint savoury spice without masking the fruit. The wine is pale ruby with an orange rim. The nose is fragrant and unusual, with blood orange, dried roses, damp earth and warm stone; the palate is light and supple, with tart red berries, a herbal thyme edge, fine chalky tannins and a fresh, lifted finish. This is a red to serve slightly cool, around 14 to 15 degrees, which sharpens its aromatics. It works well with lighter poultry and game.