February 27, 2025
Incredible Value: A Chardonnay over delivering in the price to quality ratio - El Enemigo
Outstanding Value: Enemigo Chardonnay
In our opinion, this is one of the best Chardonnays you can get from South America. It’s rich, layered, intriguing and complex.
El Enemigo was founded by Adrianna Catena, daughter of the legendary Nicolás Catena, and Alejandro Vigil, one of Argentina’s most celebrated winemakers. While Catena Zapata is renowned for Malbec, El Enemigo takes a different approach, focusing on Cabernet Franc for its reds and Chardonnay and Semillon for its whites, highlighting the incredible potential of these varieties in Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. Vigil, who also serves as Chief Winemaker for Catena Zapata, is known for his deep understanding of Mendoza’s terroirs and his relentless pursuit of perfection. His work at El Enemigo has earned him a cult-like following, producing some of the most exciting wines in Argentina today.
The El Enemigo Chardonnay 2022 is a distinctive expression of high-altitude Mendoza terroir, crafted from Gualtallary’s chalky slopes. This remarkable cuvée undergoes a unique aging process under flor, similar to fine sherry, imparting a subtle nuttiness and saline complexity. Combined with barrel fermentation and whole-cluster pressing, it creates a Chardonnay with layered depth, vibrant acidity, and a textured, mineral-driven palate. Routinely hailed as one of the world’s best-value Chardonnays by James Suckling, it consistently outperforms wines costing multiple times the price.
Aromatically, it is precise and complex, offering flint, gunpowder, waxed lemon, and oyster shell, alongside ripe notes of mango and salted green apple. On the palate, its full-bodied structure is beautifully lifted by a taut mineral drive and tangy citrus energy, finishing savory and saline. With a 96-point rating from James Suckling and further supported with 94-Points from Vinous, this is a Chardonnay that rivals the best whilst maintaining outstanding value. A must-have for collectors and lovers of serious, terroir-driven white wines.
Coming in at €21.50* inc VAT per bottle, this is one of those wines that you’ll want to be buying a case or two. It’s a favourite amongst the team and we can’t recommend it enough.
El Enemigo Chardonnay 2022
€21.95* inc VAT per bottle
96 Points | James Suckling
A consistently impressive chardonnay that highlights purity and saline minerality. Salted lemons, sliced apples, seashells and stones drizzled with a touch of oak spice. Full-bodied yet tense and lightly saline on the palate, with bright acidity and a pure, lengthy finish. Nervy and simply delicious. Drink or hold.
94 Points | Vinous, Joaquín Hidalgo
The 2022 Chardonnay hails from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels, with some under velo de flor, this bright green-gold wine reveals aromas of peaches and pears with a hint of cashew and a slightly oaky backdrop. Dry and lean, the palate lingers with a chalky mouthfeel. This is a modern high-altitude Chardonnay.
*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.