Sena 2018

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 2018 Seña shows the fresher side of the Ocoa zone of the Aconcagua Valley through a Bordeaux blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot; there are small differences, but nothing substantial. As I've seen in other wines from the very complete 2018 vintage, the grapes ripened thoroughly and achieved more flavors and nuances, and the wines are slightly higher in alcohol (14% this year versus 13.3% in 2017, but in reality it's 13.8% ). But the wine seems to have more of everything. The grapes fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete vats and matured in new barriques and Stockinger foudres for 22 months, a similar formula as the one used for Viñedo Chadwick. This is a very elegant vintage of Seña, a year with a slow ripening so that the grapes achieved very good ripeness and full development of aromas and flavors, making the wine nuanced and complex, with depth but also freshness and finesse—floral and expressive. The tannins are very fine, polished and elegant, and the wine is long and complex, mixing the best f 2015 and 2016, coming through as a very complete year. It's still a little young and should develop nicely in bottle; it's approachable now, but if you can hold it a little bit more, it should be even better. This has to be the finest vintage of Seña to date. Comparing it with the Chadwick from the same year, there is more freshness and a little more complexity and clout coming form the cooler zone and the palette of varieties used that give more options to achieve more nuance. 100,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February and March 2020." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (8/31/2020), Ratings: 98, Drink: 2021-2035

''Based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenère, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Sena was vinified in a mix of stainless-steel tanks and concrete and aged 22 months in new barrels. Offering up impressive cassis and darker berry fruits as well as notes of violets, truffle, damp earth, tobacco, and candied orange peel, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a great, seamless texture, no hard edges, and just about flawless tannins. The overall freshness and purity as well as its seamless texture all make for a compelling, world class wine. Already offering complexity, richness, and elegance, enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years.'' Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2020: En Primeur (12/14/2020) Ratings: 98 Drink: 2020-2035