El Enemigo Semillon 2023
El Enemigo Semillon 2023 is a dry, medium-bodied white from Sémillon (Mendoza, Argentina), in the rich, round whites style. Acidity is moderate; oak influence is little. Good with blue cheese, roast chicken, creamy pasta, lobster. Drink within 5 years (to about 2028). Critic score 94/100 (merchant-reported).
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Château Tour de Mirambeau, Reserve Blanc, Bordeaux 2025 Despagne Vignobles · Bordeaux | £16.70 | |||
| Margan Semillon, Broke Fordwich, Hunter Valley 2024 Margan · Hunter Valley | £16.50 | |||
| Bodegas Miras Semillon 2022 | £23.00 | |||
| Aresti Trisquel Series Origen Semillon 2020 Aresti Chile · Curicó Valley | £14.99 |
Cellar for up to 5 years. Serve chilled. Widely regarded as one of Argentina’s leading wine labels, El Enemigo was founded by Catena Zapata’s chief winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena who is the daughter of famed Argentinian winemaker Nicolas Catena. The two came up with the idea for this ambitious project while walking back from the Argentinian Embassy in London where Nicolas had just been awarded the Decanter Man of the Year Award. Over the last few years the duo have put together an impressive portfolio of boundary-pushing wines which merge Old World winemaking traditions with pure Argentinian soul. The grapes for this stunning Semillon are sourced from high altitude vineyards in Agrelo in the Mendoa sub-region of Lujan de Cuyo. A combination of intense sunlight and cool nights helps to grow ripe yet perfectly-balanced grapes with ample aromatics and freshness. Once in the winery the fruit is gently pressed and vinified using wild yeasts before being transferred to French oak barrels for 15 months of ageing. This lengthy maturation process creates a rich, creamy texture and adds delicate hints of toasted oak, vanilla, and spice to the luscious tropical fruit notes from the Semillon grape. A great match for roast chicken, creamy pasta dishes, mature cheeses, or pan-fried salmon steaks.