2016 El Enemigo, Gran Enemigo, Chacayes Single Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina

El Enemigo Wines

El Enemigo was founded in 2009 by Adrianna Catena, youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena Zapata; and Alejandro Vigil, head winemaker of Bodega Catena Zapata. Their goal is to challenge and redefine Argentinian winemaking by celebrating the youthful winemaking culture of the country while embracing the rich viticultural heritage of Europe. Motivated by a shared love of Cabernet Franc, they aim to produce high-altitude wines that can rival the very best of Bordeaux.

The El Enemigo vineyards are located at between 930 and 1,470 metres’ elevation. The soils here are limestone, rock and clay, creating an interesting terroir for vine cultivation. The vine plantings include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Bonarda, Chardonnay and Malbec.

Mendoza

With its western borderline dominated by the Andes and its 146,000 hectares of vineyards representing 70% of the country’s wine production, Mendoza is Argentina’s biggest and most important wine-growing province.

Mendoza’s vineyards are a haven to Old World varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Bonarda, Sangiovese, Barbera, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. The province’s signature grape is Malbec. 

Mendoza still produces large amounts of inexpensive wine for domestic consumption, as well as grape concentrate, but the sub-region of Luján de Cuyo stands out with some lovely velvety Malbecs, while the cool, gravelly Maipú is best for Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The most exciting area in Mendoza for fine whites, however, is the Uco Valley, that has the highest vineyards, up to 1,200 metres above sea level. Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Chenin, Pinot Grigio and Torrontés fare particularly well in its cool climate. Its sub-region of Tupungato produces Argentina’s best Chardonnay.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Bordeaux and is the most important black grape grown in the Loire. In the Médoc it may constitute up to 15% of a typical vineyard - it is always blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is used to add bouquet and complexity to the wines. It is more widely used in St.Emilion where it adapts well to the cooler and moister clay soils - Cheval Blanc is the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world, with the final blend consisting of up to 65% of the grape.

Cabernet Franc thrives in the Loire where the cooler growing conditions serve to accentuate the grape's herbaceous, grassy, lead pencil aromas. The best wines come from the tuffeaux limestone slopes of Chinon and Bourgeil where growers such as Jacky Blot produce intense well-structured wines that possess excellent cellaring potential.