El Enemigo - Torrontés Gran Enemigo 2019

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.

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.

“Pretty, perfumed nose of white lavender, honeysuckle, peaches, orange blossom, white pears, lemon pith and blanched almonds. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity. Lots of lightly bitter floral and citrus-pith character. Serious, dry torrontes. Drink now.” - 94 Points, James Suckling

“The 2019 Torrontés Gran Enemigo from Gualtallary, Uco Valley hails from a vineyard planted at a height of 5,250 feet. Fermented and aged in earthenware vessels without skins, it's a golden yellow in hue. A complex nose features a hint of fuel alongside white flowers, tuberose and bergamot as well as contrasting anise flavors. In the mouth, it's grippy with good body and lovely tension along with a chalky feel before the long, rewarding finish. A new version of Torrontés in Argentina.” - 94 Points, Vinous

“There is a new white 2019 Gran Enemigo Torrontés from a parral vineyard planted in Gualtallary in 2009. This fermented in concrete, tinaja and oak foudre, and the tinajas and foudres are never topped up; so, the wine develops a thin layer of flor yeast, and the wines mature for around one year. It's elegant, subtle and not so aromatic; it doesn't smell of Moscatel, the typical aroma from Torrontés. It's a look at the Mosel from Gualtallary, crystalline, precise and clean, with 12.5% alcohol and very good freshness. It doesn't go through malolactic, and it's akin to a German Riesling with notes of white flowers and fruit, jasmine and a faint spicy touch. Alejandro Vigil told me this was inspired by Dirk Niepoort, who taught him how to drink Riesling. This is vibrant and tasty, very balanced, elegant and precise, with chalky and salty sensations in the finish. This is the first commercial release after trials that started in 2016. 7,000 bottles produced. Amazing.” - 94 Points, Wine Advocate

Producer: El Enemigo

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Varietal: Torrontés

Appellation: Gualtallary

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml