Wine Advisor
Aleanna, El Enemigo Chardonnay 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joaquín Hidalgo
A Chardonnay from Gualtallary that underwent a carefully calibrated ageing process developed by the winemaker Alejandro Vigil: 500 liters French oak barrels, 35% new, mixed with increasing quantities of flor. Golden yellow in color, the 2018 Chardonnay El Enemigo combines aromas of pear and apple with hazelnuts, toffee and a touch of acacia. Creamy with intense flavors, the film lends a dryness in stark contrast to the ingenious structure that enhances the firm acidity and lengthy, hazelnut finish. A technical, original white inspired by the more forward thinking parts of Burgundy and California with more than a nod to Jura as well.
About the Producer
Aleanna is a winery in Argentina, created in 2007 as a joint venture by Adrianna Catena and Alejandro Vigil, who is also the chief winemaker at renowned Bodega Catena Zapata since 2002. The estate focuses on traditional winemaking techniques and produces two wine ranges: Gran Enemigo and El Enemigo. The winery quickly garnered critical acclaim for their Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Cabernet Franc. The terroir of the Aleanna winery is located in the high-altitude wine region of Mendoza, Argentina. The vineyard El Enemigo, near the Andes, oversees exceptional winegrowing terroirs in its Argentinian vineyard that sits at between 930 and 1,470 meters of altitude, resting on limestone, rocky and clayey soils. The winery's famous wine is the Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Cabernet Franc. It has received critical acclaim and has been described as "a beautiful expression of Gualtallary; one of Mendoza´s great terroirs" with "blackberries and bramble fruit mix with crushed violets, smoke, dark chocolate and a persistent streak of graphite underpinning it all" .
