If you’ve tried El Enemigo Chardonnay, then you already know that the rare El Enemigo Semillon is the wine you must have. We managed to secure a limited number of bottles from the 2023 vintage, which was included in James Suckling’s Top 100 Best Value list, scoring 96 points, as well as 94 points from the RP Wine Advocate.

Adrianna Catena, daughter of Nicolás Catena, together with Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker of Catena Zapata, decided to create their own winery in Argentina, El Enemigo. There, they experimented with both local and international grape varieties, cultivating vineyards at high altitudes and applying unconventional yet highly successful winemaking techniques. Their wines consistently sweep awards every year (El Enemigo Gualtallary was the first 100-point Parker wine in Argentina), with James Suckling himself being a devoted fan.

So, you can imagine that expectations for this Semillon are high. El Enemigo Semillon 2023 comes from vineyards at 930 meters altitude. The combination of intense sunlight and elevation produces grapes with high acidity and an expressive aromatic profile. The winemaking process then elevates this remarkable Semillon even further, with fermentation using indigenous yeasts in used oak barrels, followed by 15 months of aging in 250L French oak barrels (10% new). Alejandro Vigil’s magic doesn’t stop there, as 35% of the wine is aged under flor*.

 El Enemigo Semillon 2023 is a wine as distinctive and complex as the combination of Vigil’s brilliance and the unique characteristics imparted by Argentina’s terroir. If you’re wondering whether you should try it — you’re already late.

*Flor, in case you’re wondering, is a thin layer of yeast that forms on the surface of the wine, protecting it from oxidation. This technique is widely used in Spanish Sherry, giving the wine a distinctive aromatic profile that can evoke fresh almond, brine, mushroom, and dough.