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WINES OF ARGENTINA
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El Enemigo – Bodega Aleanna
Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza Province
El Enemigo translates as the enemy. Nodding to the fact that at the end of any journey, most remember
only one battle—the one fought within (the original enemy). This is the battle that defines us. The wines
of El Enemigo are a tribute to those internal battles that make us who we are, brought to fruition by
winemaker Alejandro Vigil, and historian Adrianna Catena, who share a love of wine and reach back in
time to capture the era when European immigrants first settled in Argentina. These settlers sought to
make wines as fine, and finer, than those of their old homeland.
El Enemigo was created to embrace fresh and fruity New World-style wines as well as classic Old World-
style wines. Between the collective experiences of Alejandro and Adrianna, they have an unsurpassed
knowledge of the Mendoza region and were able to select sites that would yield grapes in exactly the
style they wanted.
Alejandro, the former head of the soil division of Argentina’s Wine Institute and the head winemaker at
Bodega Catena Zapata, combines his expertise in
terroir
and is passion for experimentation in creating El
Enemigo. Using his in-depth knowledge of the land, Alejandro is visionary in working with smaller varietals
in Mendoza and crafting them to generate their best expressions in the wines.
Adrianna Catena is an Oxford-educated historian specializing in Early Modern Atlantic History. She is the
daughter of Nicolás Catena, the pioneer of Argentine winemaking.
El Enemigo Malbec
El Enemigo Malbec is 89 percent Malbec, 6 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Petit Verdot. It is a
rich and concentrated wine with aromas of black fruit, cherry and dark berry fruit on the nose followed in
the palate by a full-bodied wine with flavors of spice, blackberry, black cherry, pepper and a slight floral
character. The finish is elegant and lengthy.
2013:
95 TA |
2012:
93 WE - Top 100 |
2011:
93 WE |
2008:
91 WA
El Enemigo Bonarda
A tribute to old Bonarda of the Eastern Mendoza, a wine made in a traditional Mendoza style, El Enemigo
Bonarda shows a deep violet color with bluish reflections. The nose is intense and complex. Intense
aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberries, raspberries, black cherries, chocolate and liquor, with some spicy
notes of fresh herbs provided by the Cabernet Franc appear. The taste has a sweet impact with silky
tannins and aromas of ripe black and red fruits with notes of licorice and vanilla. Its natural acidity is
refreshing. By its concentration and complexity, the finish is long and persistent.
2013:
93 TA |
2012:
92 W&S |
2011:
93 JS |
2010:
90 WA |
2009:
90 WA