JAMES SUCKLING 97 POINTS - "A hint of flint and gunpowder with waxed lemon, oyster shell, mango and salted green apples. Quite a textured, saline expression of chardonnay with tangy flavors and a mineral drive. Full-bodied and reductive with phenolic support. Savory, saline and mouthwatering finish. Love the austerity here."
It shouldn't be too surprising that the wine is this good, as El Enemigo has the pedigree: it's a collaboration between Adriana Catena and Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker for Argentinian powerhouse Catena Zapata. The winery was named to represent their irreverence for the status quo ("the enemy"), and their Chardonnay certainly lives up to that, as it's made in a style that breaks from the norm for New World whites!
In a unique twist for most Chardonnays, El Enemigo's is aged almost completely under a "veil" of yeast that serves as a barrier between the wine and air, a common technique in the Jura region of France. This form of aging contributes to the savory and softened fruit aspects that rein in the piercing, freshly-fruited profile of Chardonnay grown in the intense sunlight of the high-altitude Gualtallary region of Mendoza, Argentina.
It shouldn't be too surprising that the wine is this good, as El Enemigo has the pedigree: it's a collaboration between Adriana Catena and Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker for Argentinian powerhouse Catena Zapata. The winery was named to represent their irreverence for the status quo ("the enemy"), and their Chardonnay certainly lives up to that, as it's made in a style that breaks from the norm for New World whites!
In a unique twist for most Chardonnays, El Enemigo's is aged almost completely under a "veil" of yeast that serves as a barrier between the wine and air, a common technique in the Jura region of France. This form of aging contributes to the savory and softened fruit aspects that rein in the piercing, freshly-fruited profile of Chardonnay grown in the intense sunlight of the high-altitude Gualtallary region of Mendoza, Argentina.
Overall Rating
4 out of 5 Based on 1 Review
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9th Sep 2022
The Enemy
great Chardonnay, very subtle on the fruits and super refreshing. Bought a case for the collection
