| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | Chile |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Aromas are lifted and bright in this wine with loads of blackberries and blueberries. Full body, velvety tannins. Gorgeous texture. Very pure fruit. A bright and more fundamental Seña than last vintages. Restrained at the end. 55% cabernet, 20% malbec, 12% petit verdot, 8% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc. September 2018 release. Needs three or four years of bottle age.
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.
Optimal harvesting times for the Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot mean that the Carmenère percentage in the 2016 Seña is lower than normal. With 73% new oak and 12% foudres, the oak infleunce on this wine is measured. The wine was bottled in February 2018 with just under 7,000 cases made. A bright ruby purple in the glass, there is great freshness and lift on the nose here - red and black cherries mingle with little sweet spices of clove and vanilla, as well as a touch of ripe hedgerow fruit. The palate is pure silk - the tannin refinement here is hugely impressive. This allows the compact but powerful fruit core to drive through the mid-palate, offering wild berries, a touch of cassis, and a light toastiness. The acid is fresh and adds a cool note to the overall fruit perception, but it avoids the green edge that can mark many of Chile's wines. This is elegant and ethereal, and errs much more towards harmony and balance than force.
