Viña Seña Red Blend 2009
(Aconcagua Valley, Chile) - [DM 96] [JS 95] [WA 92] [VM 90]

About this Wine:
Seña was created as a joint venture between Chilean Eduardo Chadwick and American Robert Mondavi way back in 1995. Their aim was to make a wine that would demonstrate the full potential of Chile. Modelled on a Bordeaux style, it would have a Chilean soul, with its grapes grown under biodynamic farming principles in the Aconcagua Valley. Their dream was to create a wine that would be welcomed, in time, among the world's First Growths. 

Vintage Notes:
The 2009 vintage was marked for its high heat summation along the season. It began with an early bud-break in very healthy conditions and a very homogeneous flowering in line with the historical dates. January was the hottest month of the season, so the biggest challenge for the viticultural team was to look afer the vines hydration and protect the fruit with correct canopy management, ensuring smooth veraison progress. The trend of warm temperatures continued and encouraged an excellent ripening of the grapes that particularly favoured the Carmenere variety, reaching a perfect phenolic maturation in balance with good levels of sugar accumulation. Harvest began two weeks earlier than the historical dates to deliver a beautiful wine with great concentration and richness, fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity.

Tasting Notes:
“Seña 2009 is a very complex wine that is showing beautifully today, after more than ten years of ageing. The colour shows its natural evolution, which still retains its red hue. The nose unveils multiple layers of spicy notes, subtle oak, chocolate, tobacco and cigar box, while amazingly fruity as it opens up, with hints of ripe raspberry and cherry. The mouth is round but shows vivid acidity on the finish. This vintage displays excellent density and length with great structure and perfectly ripe tannins alluring with a soft and silky mouthfeel. Ready to drink now or hold for five more years.” -Francisco Baettig, Winemaker November 2021

Technical Information

Assemblage: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Carmenere, 16% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.5%

Ageing: 22 months in French oak barrels (100% new)

Ratings & Reviews:

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Such incredible aromatics on this wine, so much going on. Wildly perfumed, like wild meadow flowers with cherry, leather, coffee and blackcurrant. Smooth and coursing, this is evocative - pulsing with life and energy. The fruit is bright yet rich with mint-edged tannins that support the fruit and overall structure. You get these lovely mature tertiary aromas on the nose but then such youth still on the palate. Feels like a great time to drink this to enjoy the plump and still lively fruit with the tannins that are supportive, smooth and slightly grippy. I love it. A decadent wine, there's power here, but shining brightly right now. Just gorgeous. The first ex-chateau back vintage release, just a few thousand bottles." - Georgina Hindle (Feb 2022)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"This is a powerful and structured red with currants, minerals and blackberries. Full and very silky plus has firm tannins and a chewy finish. Stoney. Needs another three years to soften. A beauty." (Aug 2014)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2009 Sena has an exuberant bouquet of blackberry, boysenberry, menthol, crushed stone and graphite that is extremely well defined and more feminine than the 2008. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, taut tannins and superb focus. It has a focused, leafy, tobacco infused finish and great length. Excellent. Drink 2014-2020." - Neal Martin (Dec 2012)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2009 Seña was made in a warm, dry year that also marked the high point of the overripe style. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Carménère, 16% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc; it was aged for 22 months in new French barrels. Garnet in color with a brick dust sheen. The nose is somewhat subdued but subtle with notes of herb, spice, cedar and ink. In the mouth, the palate is lit up by warm balance and energy along with grippy, slightly dry tannins." - Joaquin Hidalgo (Aug 2022)