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Tasting notes
Aged in new oak for 22 months, the 2009 Sena drinks impressively well at 15 years old, opening with a red-fruited, pretty, vibrant nose with lifted accents of dried mint, tobacco and cedar. The palate is rich yet understated, with a candied, pure, layered finish framed by powdery, structuring tannins and toasty, creamy, integrated remnants of new oak. While this is very much informed by the winemaking practices of the times, it has aged impressively well and should continue to perform well over the next five or so years. The blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Carménère, 16% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
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.
Tobacco and cigar box, soft brushed leather, with touches of white pepper spice and white truffle. This was a hot year in Aconcagua, and there are clear tertiary notes here, but it has freshness and power and is a delicious wine. One that makes you smile, and makes you want to share. Stretches out through the palate also, plenty of mineralty on the finish, it sets the pace and it delivers. No need to rush to drink - a fine example of how well Seña can age, and interesting to see this library vintage coming through La Place de Bordeaux, with the latest release still planned for September.
54% Cabernet Sauvignon (picked third week of April), 21% Carmenère (picked first week of May), 16% Merlot (picked third week of March), 6% Petit Verdot (picked second week of April), 3% Cabernet Franc (picked third week of May). TA 5.94 g/l, pH 3.36, RS 2.94 g/l. Fruit from their Seña hillside vineyard, 41 km from the Pacific Ocean. The colluvial soils have different textures and stone content. At lower altitudes the stone content is lower (0–10%) and higher up, stone content ranges from 30–70%. Elevation of 290–500m. Low rainfall during the growing season and a warm, dry summer. Hand-picked and sorted by hand. Stainless-steel fermentation, three pumpovers per day. Total maceration time ranged from 20–40 days. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Mid crimson. Real freshness on the nose as well as ripeness. Great drive and interest. All melded together into a most impressive whole. A slightly sudden finish but a huge step up compared with the rest of the first 21st-century decade vintages. (JR)
About the producer
Seña – literally meaning “signal” – was Chile’s first icon wine. In the early 1990s, the country had a reputation mainly for lower-end, high-volume wines, but Eduardo Chadwick, owner and president of Viña Errázuriz, set out to change that.