2018 Jijiji Chenin Blanc Mendoza Gen del Alma

Bottled in late April 2018, the 2018 JI JI JI Chenin Blanc was fermented with the skins in search of more balance, because the wine has a lot of acidity (7.1 grams) and low alcohol (11%), and they wanted a little more structure and weight. This is the first year that the wine fermented in old 10,000-liter oak vats. Bottled unfiltered, it's cloudy and with more on the palate than in previous vintages, salty and tasty with primary flavors and aromas. It has an electric sensation on the palate, a mixture of acidity and minerality, with a dry, chalky feeling. 2017 was a more tannic year, and in 2018 it goes back to more drinkability, reflecting a very good growing season and an evolution in the way this wine is made. I think this could develop in bottle the way a good Albariño from Rías Baixas does. Gerardo Michelini told me he recently opened a 2015 and that it was still young and fresh. A more civilized version of this somewhat raw wine within its wild character. 10,000 bottles produced.