WINE OF THE WEEK - 2017 El Enemigo Los Paraisos Single Vineyard Bonarda

I’m excited to share this week’s wine with you. If you read this blog regularly or follow me on social media, it’ll come as no surprise that I am in love with this wine - for I am always keen to try the wines made by this producer. And for good reason! El Enemigo wines have yet to let me down!

Before I get into this week’s pick, let me share a story with you. A story in which my family and I were visiting wineries in Mendoza and the last stop at the end of a long day was El Enemigo. We didn’t know a thing but I can tell you that we won’t soon forget that experience! That place was a vibe! Pulsating and oozing with “cool” factor, the winery is definitely memorable. We had a wonderful tasting too, in one of the tasting rooms. One sip of El Enemigo’s Cabernet Francs and I was done….forever a fan….and the rest, as they say, is history…. ;-)

Well, enough about me and my romantic memories of days gone by! Let’s get into this week’s wine pick!

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2017 El Enemigo Los Paraisos Single Vineyard Bonarda

What does this wine cost?

$21.95.

What in the (wine) world is Bonarda?

Bonarda is a dark skinned grape that, in modern times, is most closely associated with Argentina. Though it is planted in small quantities in other parts of the wine world, in Argentina, it is very fruitful and represents almost 10% of the vineyard acreage of the country.

Bonarda is a late ripening grape that is not too tannin and has a medium level of acidity. It is thought to be indigenous to the Savoie region of France (though there is some argument about whether it is in fact from Italy) and its original name is Douce Noir. It is also called Charbono in California, where it is made in small quantities into wines that are hard to get and come with a high price tag when compared to what you can get for your money out of Argentinian Bonarda.

The other important thing to know about Bonarda is that it generally produces a very food-friendly wine.

Where does this wine come from?

This wine comes from Maipu, which is a smaller appellation within the more famous Mendoza province of Argentina. Mendoza is a very well-known place in the wine world, because it is where a lot of Argentinian Malbec is produced. It is also the site of some of the highest altitude vineyards in the world (i.e. those in the Uco Valley). Mendoza also happens to be a hotbed for Bonarda plantings.

Why is this wine unique?

Beyond the fact that it is made from Bonarda, which is a rare specimen in my part of the world, it is also from an exceptional producer. Furthermore, it is made from fruit that is sourced from a single old-vine vineyard and has received oak treatment which gives it considerable ‘oomph’ relative to other Bonardas that make an appearance in the global market from time to time.

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by El Enemigo winery. El Enemigo, which means “the enemy”, was born out of a partnership between Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena. Alejandro is both co-owner and head winemaker at El Enemigo. He also happens to be the Chief winemaker at the very famous Bodega Catena Zapata, which is owned by Adrianna’s family (if her name seems eerily familiar, it is because she is the younger sister of Laura Catena!)

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Varieties - 100% Bonarda

Vineyard Age - 80 years

Soil types - clay and sand

Vinification - aged in oak foudres

ABV - 13.5%

Residual Sugar - 3 g/L

My tasting notes:

Dark and rich, this wine is very expressive on the nose immediately. Straight away, one smells black currants, cassis, potpourri, blueberries, sweet tobacco and cinnamon. It’s a very complex and intoxicating mix! On the palate, the wine is very dry and bold, with good fruit expression but less so than on the nose. The palate offers black currant, blueberry, blackberry, baking spice and herbal notes alongside medium tannins and a juicy level of acidity. There is a slight sweetness to this wine that comes through somewhat unexpectedly given its overall weight and structure. This is definitely a dense and intense wine - the affect of the oak aging is immediately evident.

Aging potential:

2 years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Enjoy this wine with a spicy cumin-heavy curry, with steak, washed rind cheese or cured salami.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 92 points

At this price point, this wine is a stunner! It really is a great value. And it is very food friendly too.

If you’re located in Ontario, you can find this wine at the LCBO under Product #17286.

FINAL VERDICT:

Buy it! Don’t wait - it won’t last very long…..:)

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers…..and once again, happy new year to you and yours!

XOXO

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