Introduction: Enate is one of Spain's most distinctive and forward-thinking wineries — founded in 1991 in the foothills of the Pyrenees at Salas Altas, Huesca, and famous not only for its wines but for its radical commitment to contemporary art, with each label featuring an original work commissioned from a renowned artist. Winemaker Jesús Artajona is one of Spain's most respected, and the Chardonnay 234 — named after the single vineyard parcel from which it comes — is Enate's flagship white: a consistently crowd-pleasing, unoaked expression of Chardonnay that has put Somontano on the international map. The 2024 earned 88 points from Wine-Searcher's critic aggregate.

Terroir: The "234" vineyard sits at approximately 600 meters above sea level across the municipalities of Salas Altas, Salas Bajas, Cregenzán, and Barbastro, on infertile limestone soils at the foot of the eastern Pyrenees. The Somontano DO has a continental climate with cold winters, hot summers, and significant diurnal temperature variation — conditions that allow Chardonnay to build considerable aromatic intensity and natural acidity simultaneously. Low yields and precision viticulture are a stated priority. Grapes are harvested at night to arrive at the winery as cool and fresh as possible.

Appearance: Pale yellow with greenish, almost glaucous highlights — clean and luminous in the glass.

Nose: Complex and immediately inviting — green apple, ripe peach, and fennel lead, alongside exotic tropical notes of guava and passion fruit, and a subtle mineral backdrop. Fresh and expressive rather than restrained, with good aromatic intensity for an unoaked white. The night harvest and five-hour skin contact before pressing contribute to the aromatic lift and character.

Palate: Broad and full-textured on entry — more weight and presence than a simple everyday white — yet kept lively by a sustained, refreshing acidity that runs through the mid-palate. Flavors of apple, peach, and tropical fruit are clean and focused, with a slightly creamy, round quality on the close. No oak at any stage; the fruit expression is entirely pure. Slightly syrupy on the finish — generous rather than sharp.

Finish: Medium in length, with a clean, fruity fade and a gentle mineral thread. Approachable and satisfying from the first pour.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Grilled sea bass with lemon and herbs, chicken with romesco sauce, or seared scallops with a light cream reduction.
🥦 Vegetarian: Asparagus with vinaigrette, goat cheese and herb tart, or roasted vegetable paella.
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Fresh Manchego, mild goat cheese, green olives, jamón serrano, and Marcona almonds.

Overall Impression: The 2024 Enate Chardonnay 234 is precisely what it has always been — one of Spain's most reliable and well-priced unoaked Chardonnays, delivering genuine varietal character and freshness from a genuinely distinctive highland terroir. Drink now while youthful and vivid. Serve at 46–50°F (8–10°C); drink now through 2026.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): ~13–14.5% (verify on bottle; varies by source)
Farming Practices: Precision viticulture; low yields; environmentally conscious management; night harvest to preserve freshness
Producer Name:Bodegas Enate (Viñedos y Crianzas del Alto Aragón)
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: DO Somontano, Aragón (Salas Altas, Huesca)
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay 100%
Vintage: 2024
Wine Style: Dry White — Medium- to full-bodied for an unoaked style, with a generous, textured profile and tropical fruit character. More weight and presence than a typical Chablis-style Chardonnay, reflecting the warmth of the Somontano climate, but kept fresh by limestone soils and altitude. No oak — all fruit, terroir, and winemaking precision. White Winemaking Techniques: Night harvest; whole bunch pneumatic pressing at low pressure (0.2 bar); 5 hours skin contact ("film maceration") before pressing; static cold settling at 10°C for 48 hours; temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel at 16°C with selected Saccharomyces yeasts; clarified with bentonite; cold stabilized at -5°C; filtered; no oak contact
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork