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 and Viticulture 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
Owner: Alejandro Vigil & Adrianna Catena
Winemaker: Alejandro Vigil
Founded: 2007
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Acclaim
Sourced from 100-year-old pergola-trained vines in Rivadiavia's El Mirador Vineyard, the 2022 Bonarda contains 15% cofermented Cabernet Franc from Gualtallary and matured in a mix of foudre, barrique and stainless steel for 15 months. It is inky, roasted and savory on the nose, introducing an immensely concentrated, tensile palate before concluding with a sturdy and taut finish. — acclaim for 2022 El Enemigo Bonarda from Wine Advocate, May 2025
Containing 15% Malbec, the 2021 Gran Enemigo Agrelo Single Vineyard hails from clay soils planted with 10,000 vines per hectare. It fermented in barrique with 20% inclusion of whole bunches and spent 15 months maturing in foudre. It leads with the most spice-inflected bouquet of the single-vineyard Cabernet Franc range, developing vibrant, floral notes with time in the glass. The palate displays a dense, compact profile delivered with the impeccable precision that runs through the range, concluding with a bright, focused and weightless finish. — acclaim for 2021 Gran Enemigo Agrelo from Wine Advocate, May 2025
The 2022 Malbec hails from Adrianna Vineyard, contains 10% Cabernet Franc and was fermented entirely whole clusters before maturing for 15 months in foudre, tank and barrel. The bouquet starts with a poised interplay between herbal and floral elements, with a core of black fruits, followed by a rich, fluid and seamless palate. It concludes with an intensely savory, earth-tinged finish framed with grippy, refined tannins. — acclaim for 2022 El Enemigo Malbec from Wine Advocate, May 2025
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