El Enemigo Syrah/Viognier 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Review

During Thanksgiving Day long weekend in 2020, I enjoyed a pair of lovely wines from El Enemigo. Surprisingly, a full year later and almost to the day, I am once again enjoying a fine wine from Argentina's El Enemigo with tonight's red wine review - a lovely Syrah/Viognier blend which newly arrived across Ontario last weekend as part of the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

El Enemigo Wines was co-created in 2010 by Winemaker Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena. Their philosophy since the beginning is that the land precedes us. The grapes grow and ripen in its care and Alejandro and Adrianna do their part by lending a helping hand while the fruit and terroir do their art. El Enemigo was born out of a desire to carve their own path as they thrive in the thrill of experimentation and delight in the new and unconventional. Alejandro and Adrianna have a shared obsession of terroir and with bottle their aim to create wines that reflect the freshness and character of each vineyard and offer a put expression of their terroir.

This red wine is a blend of two grapes not widely grown in Argentina - Syrah and Viognier. Historically, Syrah was used in the production of blends in Argentina. However, it's popularity has risen over the last decade to become the 4th most widely cultivated red varietal in the country and represents 10% of all red grape varietals. In cooler regions like the Uco Valley - where this wine is from, Syrah produces well-structured wines suitable for ageing. Viognier was introduced in Argentina in 1993 and has been gradually unveiled to become more interesting over time. Today, Viognier is the 8th most cultivated white wine varietal, representing just 2% of all white wine varietals.

Grown in the high altitude Gualtallary GI in Tupungato, within the Mendoza region, this red wine is a co-fermented blend of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier. The Syrah was grown at 1,470 metres (4,822 feet) above sea level on sandy soil, while the Viognier was grown at 1,400 metres (4,593 feet) above sea level on deep-calcareous and rocky soils. It was fermented using wild yeast and aged for 7 months in 100-year-old foudre. As we have seen in other parts of the world, Syrah and Viognier often make good partners, let's see how this Argentinean Syrah-Viognier blend tastes tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ENEMIGO SYRAH/VIOGNIER 2017 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#19390) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, this has elegant, refined, and complex aromas of dark fruit, blackberry, black pepper spice, violet, and meaty with savoury undertones and floral touches rising out of the glass. It's medium+ bodied with lovely ripe blackberry, black pepper spice, meaty, violet, and floral notes on the flavour profile. Fine stony mineral notes arrive on the mid-palate, and it's all supported by fresh, balanced acidity and refined, nicely textured, and plush tannins. Savoury with stony minerals, cocoa, blackberry, and florals linger on the long, very satisfying finish. For Syrah wine lovers. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

You can find other lovely wines from El Enemigo through their Agent - Noble Estates Wine & Spirits.