2020, Sena, Aconcagua Valley, CHILE

Viña Errázuriz & Robert Mondavi
Aconcagua Valley, Chile
"Bordeaux Blend": Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Camenère, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

"Classic Seña swagger," Jane Anson.

The name Seña is Spanish for distinguishing mark or personal signature, signifying that Chile produces world-class wine.

Seña started life in 1995 as a collaboration between the late Robert Mondavi in California and Eduardo Chadwick of Viño Errázuriz - located in the Aconcagua Valley north of Santiago, Chile.
The grapes for Seña are sourced from Seña Hillside vineyards within the Aconcagua Valley, in which vines are grown according to bio-dynamic principles.

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. 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. This wine has intensity and complexity, with no mintiness or herbal notes; it's spicy and juicy, with energy and depth. It has structure, colour, stuffing and acidity to develop nicely in bottle. It was bottled in February 2022. 97/100 Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate

Complex, with savoury, spicy character, showing tobacco, salted plums, olives, black cherries, cassis and a hint of white pepper on the nose, followed by a refined, savory, balsamic accent. A full-bodied Seña with juicy fruit chiseling into the tight, extremely fine-grained tannins. Long, bright and still elegant from this warm vintage. A wine with lots of harmony now, but better to drink from 2025. 98/100 James Suckling.

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. Beautifully expressive - I like the styling here, everything feels very polished and purposeful. 95 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.
(Tasted July 2022.)

A purplish garnet red, the intense, ripe nose presents notes of herb, blackcurrant and plum while in the mouth the rich balance gives a gentle boost channeled by firm but restrained tannins. Juicy and relaxed with nuanced flavour, it will improve in the bottle.
94/100 Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous.

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. 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. 94 Jane Anson.