Wine Advisor
Sena 2016
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Description
Seña is a sign to the world that Chile was able to produce world-class wines, expressing the uniqueness of the Aconcagua Valley and changing the way the world thought about Chilean wine. Seña is a unique Bordeaux-style red blend with a very Chilean soul. Its predominant variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, while Carmenere clearly ties it to Chile. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot round out the blend.
"Deep and beautiful ruby red colour with a bright violet glimmer. The nose offers gorgeous aromas of blueberries, cherries, and violets framed by light notes of nuts, fine pastry, and a lingering touch of truffle that lends elegance. The palate is in line with the nose while adding delicate notes of rose petals. It is fresh and juicy and full of life, with elegant, fine-grained tannins that are both firms yet delicate, and speak of wine with tremendous ageing potential." Francisco Baettig, Winemaker February 2018
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
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.
Reviewed by: Joaquin Hidalgo
The 2016 Seña is a graceful representation of the challenges presented from a cool year that also experienced record rainfall of 79mm in mid-April. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Carménère and 5% Cabernet Franc, it was aged for 22 months in 73% new barrels, 12% in foudres. The restrained, elegant nose offers blackcurrant and fruit with delicate hints of sour cherry, spice and herbs. It’s juicy in the mouth with an energy grounded in the attractive freshness, finely grained tannins and depth of flavor. The compact flow, which is a touch watery, lingers at length while the alcohol balance is superlative.
Reviewed by: Joaquin Hidalgo
Seña 2016 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Carménère and 5% Cabernet Franc, all from Aconcagua, that spent 22 months in French oak, 73% of it new. A ripe, complex nose of cassis and raspberry jam with sweet spices from the ageing. Fresh and juicy on the palate with a taut texture of firm, precise tannins and a bold, lengthy finish. Will age well in the bottle.
About the Producer
One of the oldest vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère in Chile, if not in the world, is the origine of this story. Enclaved in the Colchagua Valley, near the town of Santa Cruz, the Apalta Valley was the place selected by a visionnary near the 1915's who, using a unique french massal selection, planted this amazing vineyard. In 1994, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet acquired this property. True to the demands of the family, their ambition was to produce an exceptional Chile wine and to pave the way for the qualitative development of the country's fine wines. CLOS APALTA is born in 1997 as the iconic wine of the Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle in Chile under the idea to magnify the exceptional terroir of Apalta with French expertise. Recognized as “Wine of the Year” when its 2005 vintage was chosen TOP #1 by the Wine Spectator magazine, CLOS APALTA is the only South American wine that has received this award. In addition, the 2000 and 2001 vintages were also positioned as TOP 3 and TOP 2 respectively in the same magazine. With the exceptional 2017 vintage, Clos Apalta is awarded for the third time 100 points by famed American journalist and wine critic James Suckling, consolidating its position in the "Legends of Chile".
1999(1)2008(2)2009(8)2010(3)2011(3)2012(5)2013(7)2014(10)2015(7)
Package Size
1 x 3L
