El Enemigo, meaning enemy in Spanish, is one of the countless projects led by the Argentinian Catena family. In 2009, Adrianna, Nicolás Catena Zapata’s fourth daughter, and winemaker Alejandro Vigil founded this estate in Mendoza. It sits on a bed of limestone and Andean alluvial soil, creating an oasis of freshness in the furnace that is Mendoza. In the face of difficulties, they live by the mantra that “at the end of the journey, we remember only one battle: the one we fought against ourselves, the original enemy, the one that defined us”.
True to their roots, the winemakers planted French, Burgundian, Italian and Argentinian varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Torrontés and Bonarda. And they let the terroirs speak for themselves, because as Alejandro puts it, “it’s the land that counts in a good wine”. So the mix of Argentinian and French techniques, with drip irrigation, spontaneous fermentation, vinification in concrete eggs and mature barrels create amazingly rich and fruity wines.

The Semillon vines are planted in high-altitude plots in the commune of Agrelo on the southern side of the Mendoza River just south of Perdriel in Argentina. Each vine draws all the nutrients it requires from the soil naturally, thanks to careful, environmentally friendly viticulture. The meticulously monitored yields are also a guarantee of premium quality raw materials. The estate applies age-old winemaking rules and techniques in the winery and in the vineyard designed to showcase the region’s terroirs finest qualities. The hand-picked grapes are destalked and delicately pressed. Fermentation is triggered by native yeasts naturally present in the berries. The wine is then matured in French oak casks, including 20% with a veil of yeast, for around 15 months.
The expressive bouquet reveals aromas of tropical fruit combined with light notes of spice. The rich, delicate palate displays a beautiful balance of acidity and minerality.