Sena 2011

Seña, situated in the heart of the Aconcagua Valley in Chile, is a beacon of excellence in South American winemaking. Founded as a collaborative venture between two renowned figures in the wine world, Eduardo Chadwick of Chile and the late Robert Mondavi of California, Seña has become a benchmark for quality and innovation in the Chilean wine landscape.

Established in 1995, Seña was a groundbreaking project from its inception. The founders aimed to create a wine that would transcend borders, showcasing the unique terroir of the Aconcagua Valley while incorporating the expertise and traditions of both Chilean and Californian winemaking. This dedication to excellence and cross-cultural collaboration has positioned Seña as a leading icon in the world of New World wines.

The estate's vineyards are meticulously tended, benefiting from the diverse microclimates and soils of the Aconcagua Valley. Seña is celebrated for its Bordeaux-style blends, typically dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon but also featuring other classic varietals, creating wines of depth, structure, and complexity.

Seña Winery is not merely a producer of exceptional wines; it is a testament to the potential of Chilean terroir and the vision of its founders. Visitors to Seña are treated not only to exquisite tastings but also to an exploration of the estate's commitment to sustainable and organic practices, reflecting a harmonious balance between tradition and modernity in the pursuit of winemaking excellence.

"The 2011 Sena is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere, 15% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in 75% new French oak barrels for 22 months. It has a bright cherry color and restrained aromas of blackberries, spices, cedar wood, tobacco and a hint of mint. The palate is a little tight and restrained, and the wine medium-bodied, with balanced concentration and good acidity. Young but accessible, it shows great elegance and balance. I like it more than the older vintages that I had the chance to taste for context. It needs to develop the bouquet and complexity that, without a doubt, will come with time in bottle. Drink 2015-2027.

Sena’s hillside vineyard is on the cooler side of the Aconcagua valley (the limit to ripen Cabernet and Carmenere), extending over 45 hectares planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. The colluvial soils on the valley’s slopes contain a variety of textures and stone proportions, resulting in a great diversity of well-drained gravel, rock and loam. The backbone of the wine is Cabernet Carmenere, complemented with the other grapes. In the 1990s, Eduardo Chadwick visited Napa, where he met Robert Mondavi. Mondavi visited Chile in 1993 and Eduardo was the one to drive him around. Mondavi was delighted with the potential he saw, but there was really no quality wine to show the world the potential of Chile. It was a 50/50 joint venture to make a blend including Carmenere to give it a Chilean character. In 2005, Eduardo Chadwick bought Mondavi’s 50 percent, and since then it’s been a Chadwick family winery, worked biodinamically since 2005." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (6/25/2014), Ratings: 93, Drink: 2015-2027