El Enemigo Chardonnay 2023

El Enemigo Chardonnay comes from Mendoza in Argentina, the project born of the partnership between winemaker Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena. Chardonnay here is grown at altitude in the Andean foothills, where intense sunlight ripens the fruit while cold mountain nights preserve acidity, giving a wide diurnal swing that keeps the wine fresh despite its weight. It is barrel fermented and aged for twelve months in French oak, so fermentation in wood binds the oak more seamlessly into the wine, while malolactic conversion softens sharp malic acid into rounder lactic acid and lees contact adds a creamy, savoury texture. The oak contributes vanilla and toast rather than raw wood. The wine is bright golden. The nose is fresh lemon and white peach lifted by vanilla, toasted bread and a hazelnut note. The palate is full and textured, with ripe citrus fruit, a creamy mid-palate and a long, nutty, mineral finish held by good acidity. Serve lightly chilled at around 10 to 12 degrees in a large glass. It suits richer fish and white meats.