Sena 2017
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Suckling
James - Decanter
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Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
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Winemaker Notes
Hot and sunny days marked the 2017 season. Nevertheless, thanks to its privileged coastal location in the Aconcagua Valley -only 40 kilometers away from the Pacific Ocean - the cool breezes that blow in moderated the temperatures. This combination of factors allowed Seña to reach perfect ripeness with a unique balance between concentration and power alongside tension, elegance and freshness.
Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Malbec 15% Carmenere 10% Cabernet Franc 8% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The aromas of blackberries, cedar, sandalwood and black tea are compelling. Black olives. Rosemary and sage undertones. Full-bodied, rich and powerful Seña with impressive and powerful tannins, yet harmony and balance. Fruit-forward. Lightly chewy. Fresh and energetic wine in a hot year. Broad-shouldered. Drink after 2022.
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Decanter
Francisco Baettig harvested this Bordeaux blend 20 days early to deliver this elegant, bright, somehow subdued wine. Complex herbs, cassis and cedar layered with figs and plums. Stylish palate, juicy concentration and a grainy, textured structure, framed by a vibrant acidity. Fluid and elegant. Drinking Window 2021 - 2033
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
They explained how the 2017 Seña was produced with "grapes that were handpicked in the morning and transported to the winery in 12-kilogram boxes for a careful inspection on a double sorting table. The grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks at 25 to 31 degrees Celsius (77 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit), depending on the variety and the level of extraction desired. Three pump-overs were carried out daily during fermentation to rotate the volume of the tank 0.5 to 1.5 times. Total maceration time ranged from 15 to 30 days for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Carmenère and eight to 12 days for the Petit Verdot, according to the development of each block vinified. The final blend was racked to French oak barrels (67% new) and aged for 22 months, during which time malolactic fermentation and stabilization occurred naturally." They harvested early and managed to keep the same alcohol level as the 2016. This has less aromatic exuberance and is a more serious vintage with good concentration and weight, not as aerial as the 2016. They increased the amount of wine matured in larger 2,500-liter foudres instead of barrique. This is more powerful, structured and concentrated, like a drier version of the 2015, with some grainy tannins, more acidity, more austerity and less primary fruit. The tannins have some grip (the earlier harvest perhaps?) and might need a little bit of time in bottle, and the wine seems to have what it takes to develop nicely in bottle. They produced 120,000 bottles of this. It was bottled in February and March 2019. Just for the record, the varietal breakdown is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 15% Carmenère, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot, reflecting a good year for Carmenère and Cabernet Franc.
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Wine Spectator
A chiseled red, with concentrated minerality and white pepper accents to the crisp and pure-tasting plum, cherry and raspberry flavors. Rich sea salt and savory herbal notes emerge midpalate, leading to a finish that lingers with cedar and cigar box nuances. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2027.
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Seña is the culmination of a vision shared by two traditional wine families that tied together their dreams and efforts to give life to Chile’s first Icon wine.
In 1995, the leader of the Napa Valley wine industry, Robert Mondavi, and the President of Viña Errázuriz Eduardo Chadwick, embarked upon the Chilean wine industry’ first strategic alliance to create a unique wine that would capture the essence of the grape and the spirit of the land. They named it Seña, as a sign to the world that Chile was able to produce a truly great, world-class wine.
Pairing their innovative spirits and passion for excellence, they searched for four years to find the perfect terroir before finally discovering the hillsides in Ocoa in the Aconcagua Valley, only 40 km from the Pacific Ocean. In 1997 they launched Seña 1995, a unique Bordeaux-style red blend with a very Chilean soul given by its Carmenere variety, grown under biodynamic principles.
This first Icon wine was a milestone in Chile’s history and would forge the way for the emergence of other Ultra-Premium wines in the country helping Chile to be recognized among the world-class appellations
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The Aconcagua River runs east from the charming costal town of Valparaiso and bisects the land creating the valley after which it was named. While alluvial soils predominate the Aconcagua Valey along its river throughout, its east-west flow creates drastically different conditions on each of its ends. Its western, seaside vineyards, with clay and stony soils upon gently rolling hills, produce cool-climate varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its inner region is one of Chile’s hottest and produces some of its best red wines. Panquehue in the inner Aconcagua is the site of Chile’s first Syrah vines, planted in 1993.