Sena, Aconcagua Valley 2016

What a beautifully maturing red Bordeaux blend in which delicate toasty oak, plus graphite and herbal complexity almost ideally complement the complex red-fruit aromas. Fantastic structure on the medium- to full-bodied palate thanks to the abundance of fine-grained tannins. Terrific interplay of restrained ripeness and cool reductive character at the extremely long finish. A cuvee of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 20% malbec, 12% petit verdot, 8% carmenere and 5% cabernet franc. Drink or hold. 20th Anniversary Berlin Tasting Event, February 2024.

What a beautifully maturing red Bordeaux blend in which delicate toasty oak, plus graphite and herbal complexity almost ideally complement the complex red-fruit aromas. Fantastic structure on the medium- to full-bodied palate thanks to the abundance of fine-grained tannins. Terrific interplay of restrained ripeness and cool reductive character at the extremely long finish. A cuvee of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 20% malbec, 12% petit verdot, 8% carmenere and 5% cabernet franc. Drink or hold. 20th Anniversary Berlin Tasting Event, February 2024.

The truly excellent 2016 Seña could very well be the finest wine produced at this estate that started as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick and now continues under the guidance of Chadwick and the excellent hand of winemaker Francisco Pancho Baettig. The grapes were picked later in 2016, and the final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Carmenere and 5% Cabernet Franc, with more Malbec and considerably less Carmenere than in the past. This is only 13.5% alcohol and has remarkable acidity and freshness, as well as overall balance and elegance that surpasses all previous vintages. Twelve percent of the volume matured in oak foudres, while the rest was aged in barrique (73% new) for 22 months. Even so, the wine is not oaky and comes through as harmonious and elegant within the house style. It's serious, dry and elegant, with zero concessions to sweetness. A mineral and profound red blend. 72,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2018.

The Seña vineyard was planted in 1998 in the heart of the Aconcagua Valley, and since 1995 it's provided the fruit for a single vineyard blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon. This new release is 55% Cabernet, with 20% Malbec, 15% Petit Verdot, 8% Carménère and 2% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Francisco Baettig works with these grapes to obtain the greatest freshness, and the very cold temperatures of 2016 certainly helped him in this task. The 2016 is vibrant, full of notes of flowers and spices, with a medium-bodied palate showing juicy acidity and firm, sharp tannins, like small needles. A linear, vertical wine, this is probably the best version to date.