Seña 2020

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 2020 Seña is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot (a little higher in search of acidity) from grapes harvested early, the second week of March, and fermented mostly in stainless steel and 10% in concrete eggs. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and good freshness. It's subtle and layered, not only fruit but with more spice; it has polished tannins and very integrated oak after 22 months in barrique, 78% new, and with 10% of the volume in large Stockinger barrels. The warmer years seem to be nicely managed, so that it's not reflected in the ripeness but is more a matter of texture and quality of the tannins; in the warmer years, like 2017 or this 2019, the wines have a little more grip, but these are definitely finer than those from the 2017 vintage. This wine has intensity and complexity, with no mintiness or herbal notes; it's spicy and juicy, with energy and depth. It has structure, color, stuffing and acidity to develop nicely in bottle. 100,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate, (04/06/2023), Ratings: 97, Drink: 2023-2035

"Beautiful fruit expression, clear and well defined, lovely texture, concentrated but smooth and round. This is full of sweet, juicy ripe fruits with a chalky, creamy texture underpinned by lifted acidity. It's bold and clearly powerful with a depth of ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, plums and raspberries alongside notes of freshly-cut flowers, herbs and sweet spices; rosemary, violets and cinnamon. Tannins are fine and well integrated and this feels well worked with finesse. Beautifully expressive - I like the styling here, everything feels very polished and purposeful. 7% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 22 months in French oak barrels (78% new) and 10% foudres." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (07/05/2022), Ratings: 95

''Balanced, intense, raspberry, bilberry, balsamic, dill, tar, grilled cedar and sandalwood. Welcoming and confident, classic Seña swagger, the balance and savoury spice notes arrive if you allow it to sit in the glass. This was a hot and dry vintage, very little rain over the winter before the season began, and the main challenge throughout was water availability. There are wells at the Seña vineyard, and their location closer to the Pacific helps moderate tempatures, but they also picked one week earlier than 2019, and upped the Malbec in the blend because it kept freshness and acidity, and helped with the aromatics. The result is more powerful and opulent than recent vinages, with an emphasis on cocoa bean and dark mint chocolate on the finish. A wine of layers that absolutely delivers on the house style, not easy to maintain in such dry vintages. 10% 2,500l oak casks for ageing, with 70% new French oak, biodynamic farming. Francisco Baettig winemaker.'' - Jane Anson, Best Pomerol 2020 Wines Tasted En Primeur, (07/02/2022), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2025-2042