2022 El Enemigo - Malbec (750ml)

El Enemigo Malbec comes from Bodega Aleanna, a joint venture between historian Adrianna Catena, daughter of Argentine wine pioneer Nicolás Catena, and Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker at Catena Zapata. The two partners bonded over a shared love of literature and philosophy before deciding to make wine together, and the project's name reflects their willingness to challenge conventional winemaking while still honoring Argentina's traditions. El Enemigo has since grown into one of the country's most closely watched labels for its thoughtful, terroir-focused approach.

The fruit for this bottling comes primarily from Gualtallary, a high-altitude sub-region of Tupungato in the Uco Valley, where vineyards sit above 1,400 meters on sandy loam soil over a limestone base. About a third of the grapes are fermented as whole clusters, with the remainder destemmed, then undergo a period of cold maceration before a longer, gentle infusion. The finished wine spends about fifteen months maturing across a combination of old foudres, barrels, and tanks, a blend chosen to build complexity without adding heavy oak influence.

The result is a bright, fruit-driven Malbec with aromas of red fruit, fresh plum, and violet, layered with herbal notes like chamomile. The palate is smooth and juicy, carrying fine tannins and a subtle chalky texture through to a fresh, mouthwatering finish. It suits grilled pork tenderloin, beef empanadas, or aged gouda.