El Enemigo Chenin Blanc 2022

This wine showcases the remarkable potential of Argentina's oldest chenin blanc vines - at 50 years old, these Mendoza plantings are practically ancient for the variety in South America. The combination of old vine concentration, whole cluster pressing, and minimal intervention winemaking creates extraordinary textural complexity that's rare in New World chenin blanc. El Enemigo's reputation for excellence with chardonnay translates beautifully to this variety, delivering the minerality and salinity that makes great chenin blanc so food-friendly.

Unfined and unfiltered bottling preserves the wine's natural texture and mouthfeel, which is crucial for showcasing chenin blanc's inherent character. This minimal intervention approach allows the almond meal richness and subtle salinity to remain intact, creating the 'texture for days' that makes this wine so compelling. While some wines benefit from clarification, chenin blanc's waxy, honeyed nature actually improves with these natural elements left undisturbed, resulting in a more authentic expression of both variety and terroir.

Whole cluster pressing is a gentle extraction method that captures the purest juice while minimising harsh tannins and excessive phenolics from the skins. For this chenin blanc, it contributes to the wine's elegant minerality and helps preserve the delicate citrus notes while building textural complexity. This technique is particularly effective with chenin blanc because the variety naturally has good acidity and structure, allowing the subtle salinity and cured lemon characteristics to shine without being overwhelmed by aggressive extraction.

The wine's medium body, minerality, and subtle salinity make it exceptional with seafood, particularly grilled fish, oysters, or crab dishes where the wine's texture can complement rich, briny flavours. The almond meal notes pair beautifully with roasted chicken or pork, while the citrus elements cut through creamy sauces and soft cheeses. The textural weight also makes it suitable for more substantial dishes than typical crisp whites, such as risotto or pasta with herb-based sauces.

While El Enemigo's chardonnays have earned consistent 97+ point scores from James Suckling, this debut chenin blanc demonstrates the same commitment to quality and terroir expression that defines their house style. The chenin shows similar textural complexity and mineral precision, but with chenin blanc's characteristic waxy mouthfeel and citrus-driven acidity rather than chardonnay's richer, more tropical profile. It's remarkable that they've achieved such sophistication on their first attempt with the variety, suggesting their winemaking philosophy translates beautifully across different grape types.