Red Wine El Enemigo Malbec 2018. El Enemigo was founded by two of Argentina’s most legendary names; Catena Zapata’s chief winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena whose passion for wine comes from her father, the famous winemaker Nicolas Catena. After connecting over a mutual love for literature and philosophy, the two decided to make their very own wine which would offer a unique new interpretation of some of Argentina’s classic grape varieties. This delicious Malbec is produced at Piedemonte al Sur in the Lujan de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza which lies a short distance from the foothills of the magnificent Andes Mountains. The grapes for this cuvee are grown at up to 1478 metres above sea level with these high altitude conditions helping to ensure perfect ripeness and penty of aromatics and freshness in the grapes. Once in the winery the grapes are then macerated and fermented in stainless steel tanks before being left to mature for 15 months in 100 year old French oak foudres. This gentle approach to winemaking helps to create a lively and vibrant fruit-forward wine with ample dark berry notes complemented by soft tannins and a long finish with hints of oaky spice.
2018
Red Wine El Enemigo Malbec 2018
Red Wine El Enemigo Syrah Viognier 2018. The story of El Enemigo begins with a historian and a winemaker. In 2009 historian Adrianna Catena, who is also Nicolas Catena’s youngest daughter, and Catena Zapata’s chief winemaker Alejandro Vigil decided to make their very own wines that would shake up Argentina’s wine scene and challenge the traditional ways of doing things. Inspired by the Old World, but invigorated by the new, these are some of the most exciting wines being made in Argentina today. This majestic Syrah is made with a dash of Viognier, just like the classic recipe for the spicy, peppery Syrahs of the Northern Rhone in France. The fruit for this bottle comes from high altitude vineyards in the Agrelo sub-region of Mendoza, where the cooler nights help to preserve plenty of freshness and aromatics. The complex nose is bursting with crushed berries, cassis, and black pepper notes, while the first sip delivers a hefty hit of firm tannins, a generous full body, and a solid core of luscious dark fruit. The finish is long with undertones of spice from the oak ageing and a subtle freshness from the Viognier. This wine will age beautifully in the cellar for a few more years, although it’s also approachable now alongside a prime Argentinian steak or barbecued ribs.
2018
Red Wine Elouan Pinot Noir 2018. This elegant Pinot Noir is carefully composed with fruit from the Willamette, Umpqua and Rouge Valleys which all benefit from a cool climate thanks to their proximity to the Oregon coast. The nearby Pacific Ocean helps to moderate temperatures, giving the vines plenty of time to develop and ripen slowly. This unrushed growing season creates wines with great depth of flavour and a crisp acidity which provides balance to the rich fruity aromas. In tribute to these special growing conditions, winemaker Joseph Wagner chose to name this wine Elouan which meaning good light” after the abundant sunshine that helps ripen the grapes during these cool summers. A fifth-generation winemaker, Joe left his Napa Valley homeland for Oregon seduced by the region’s potential for supple, vibrant expressions of the Pinot Noir grape. Typical of Oregon Pinot Noir, the wine opens with intense dark plums and black cherry jam on the nose, leading on to blackberries, boysenberries and a smoky tobacco character on the palate. The pure essence of the varietal is clear from the first sip with plenty of ripe red fruit, distinctive gamey and earthy hints and gentle tannins. This medium-bodied wine would be an ideal complement for Peking duck, pan-fried salmon or venison.
2018