RKS 2025 Wine: El Enemigo Chardonnay from Argentina: 2018 vs. 2023

Posted byRobert K Stephen (CSW)Posted inFood, WineTags:, , ,

El Enemigo 2023 Chardonnay

Aroma: Up in your face oak as if it has hijacked the wine. Pineapple, mango, pear and cinnamon. Fresher and lighter than the 2018.

Palate: A bit raspy and abrasive whereas the 2018 is far smoother. You taste the oak. Rather thin in comparison to the 2018. Acids are noticeable and not the same degree of fruit as in the 2018. Short finish.

Personality: In comparison to its 2018 older bother brash and immature.

Food Match: Grilled pork chop marinated in olive oil, oregano and lemon. The acidity in the lemon matches the acidity of this wine. It would destroy the 2018.

Price: $30 CDN.

Cellarbility: Robot in “Lost in Space” television show 1965-68 would we waving its arms violently shouting, “WARNING. WARNING. DO NOT CONSUME THIS WINE UNTIL 2029” at which point it will be peaking.

RKS 2025 Wine Review Rating: 87/100. Jamessuckling.com 96.

(El Enemigo 2023 Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina, Alejandro Vigil and Adriana Catena, 750 mL,13%).

El Enemigo 2018 Chardonnay

Colour: A much deeper gold in comparison to the 2023.

Aroma: One can’t ignore the heavy oak influence in the wine, but it is well buried in the wine. Perhaps one might say the oak is well integrated into the bouquet. Butterscotch, Baked Alaska, pear conserves, marzipan, honey, clay, and cinnamon.

Palate: Seven years in the bottle imparts a degree of smoothness. What you smell you taste. Acids are tame. A mature wine to be taken as such. It will evolve no further but its astounding aromatics are good into mid 2026.A pleasant and muted finish.

Personality: A senior citizen perfectly mobile albeit a bit slow and proud of its longevity and the fact it was money well spent.

Food Match: Shrimp/Lobster in a butter garlic sauce or chicken in a tarragon/wine/cream sauce.

Price in 2022: $25 CDN.

RKS Wine 2025 Wine Rating: 91/100 (November 2025). Natalie MacLean’s 2022 review 92/100

RKS Wine’s 2022 Review (of the 2018) Rating 89/100. Here is that review https://a-little-birdie-told-me.ca/2022/02/04/rks-wine-a-chardonnay-from-mendoza-el-enemigo-digressing-into-the-battle-of-britain/

Published by Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Robert K Stephen writes about food ,drink, travel, film, and lifestyle issues. He also has published serialized novels "Life at Megacorp", "Virus # 26, "Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog" and "The Penniless Pensioner" Robert was the first associate member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada. He also holds a Mindfulness Certification from the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. Be it Spanish cured meat, dried fruit, BBQ, or recycled bamboo place mats, Robert endeavours to escape the mundane, which is why he has established this publication. His motto is, "Have Story, Will Write."

Leave a comment