El Enemigo

Brand Description

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 a winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, and a 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. By 1936, Malbec and Petit Verdot were the most widely planted fine varietals in Argentina, their blend considered the ultimate in refinement and aging potential.

Winemaking Philosophy

El Enemigo is produced at BESA, located in the Vista Flores district in Tunuyán, Mendoza. The facility is named for the unique aspect of Mendoza’s high-altitude winemaking region nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. 

Alejandro Vigil is a soil expert, winemaker, and agronomist. He is the Chief Winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata, the former head of the soil division at Argentina’s Wine Institute, and the former head of the soil division of INTA. 

Adrianna Catena is the daughter of Nicolás Catena. She has a Master’s Degree in Early Modern Iberian Atlantic history from the University of Oxford. Her dream is to continue the family legacy of winemaking while pursuing a passion for history and writing from a cottage surrounded by vineyards in the Argentine Andes.

Alejandro Vigil
Adrianna
Aleanna Winery
Alejandro Vigil
Chacayes
Concrete Egg with Soil Map
Enemigo Vineyard
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Winery Profile
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Acclaim
“The blend of the 2019 Gran Enemigo changed to 40% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from Gualtallary, in a year when they used less Malbec and more Cabernet. It has restrained 13.5% alcohol and an incredibly balanced palate, very tasty and juicy, with impressive herbal notes intermixed with ripe berries. If there's something these wines don't have, it's sweetness. They are austere and complete, serious and designed for the long run.”
— acclaim for 2019 Gran Enemigo from Wine Advocate, Nov 2022
“Glossy, stemmy sour cherries, tapenade and white pepper with a nice touch of sauerkraut, cocoa powder, warm stone minerality and herbs. Fleshy and fresh on the medium-to-full bodied palate with succulent fruit, spices and lots of fine, chalky tannins that dissolve into a long, naturally rendered finish. Really impressive.”  — acclaim for 2019 Gran Enemigo from James Suckling, Dec 2023
“This is an elegant Cabernet Franc with 15% Malbec. Coming from Gualtallary’s limestone soils, it has a fine chalky texture and saline notes. Delicate aromas of rosemary, graphite and wild berries dance on the nose. The fresh palate exhibits a blend of herbs, blackberries and a hint of balsamic. Sip it slowly, as it continues to evolve in the glass.” – (Cellar Selection) — acclaim for 2019 Gran Enemigo from Wine Enthusiast, Apr 2024
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