El Enemigo Chardonnay 2023

Cellar for up to 10 years. Serve chilled. El Enemigo was founded by Catena Zapata chief winemaker Alejandro Vigil and Nicolas Catena’s youngest daughter, Adrianna Catena who is a historian. This exciting Argentinian project celebrates their shared interest in history, philosophy and literature, creating innovative, boundary-pushing wines with authentic Argentinian soul. This characterful Chardonnay is sourced from superb vineyards in Mendoza’s Gualtallary sub-region which sit at 1400-1500 metres above sea level. This lofty altitude ensures cool nights even during the summer as well as plenty of bright sunshine which helps ripen the grapes evenly and slowly. In the winery Alejandro uses an unusual technique common in France’s Jura wine region, covering the young wine with a thin veil of flour or yeast and leaving it to age in old oak barrels for 10 months. This distinctive process gives the Chardonnay striking notes of bitter almonds and dried fruit along with ripe tropical fruit notes from the grape variety itself. On the palate there are savoury notes of cream and toasted nuts along with peach and apricot which linger long on the tongue. This characterful white represents the very best of Argentina’s up-and-coming new wineries and will pair beautifully with pan-fried salmon, tuna steaks or herby roast chicken.

Price: £18.59 from 8wines UK