Sena Sena 2020

Sena Sena 2020

 

Zoom Mouse over image to zoom
Sena
Sena 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : Chile
  • Region : Aconcagua Valley
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13,5°
  • Grappes : 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carménère, 7% Petit Verdot

A wine of intensity and precision, this vintage delivers layered aromas, freshness, and elegance, with the hallmark complexity of the Aconcagua Valley terroir.

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 98 2020
RP Robert Parker 97 2020
WE Wine Enthusiast 95 2020
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 94 2020
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

Seña's vineyard lies in the Aconcagua Valley, a privileged site where the Andes and Pacific Ocean converge to create a distinctive mesoclimate. The cool breezes from the Humboldt Current moderate daytime heat, extending the ripening season and preserving acidity and aromatic freshness. The vineyard, cultivated under biodynamic practices, is rooted in hillside soils that provide excellent drainage and a natural concentration of minerals, translating directly into the wine's depth and complexity.

The 2020 vintage began with a warm and early season. Rapid and even bud break was followed by healthy flowering under warm conditions. December and January brought moderation, which encouraged a smooth and even veraison. February saw the return of cool Pacific winds, helping to preserve acidity and aromatic precision. March brought renewed heat, shaping the vintage's opulent and dense style. Harvest started a week earlier than average, yielding powerful, exuberant wines with balance and elegance.

Winemaking

Seña 2020 is composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, and 7% Petit Verdot. Each variety was vinified separately to highlight its character before the final assemblage.

The wine aged for 22 months in 90% French oak barrels (78% new) and 10% large foudres, striking a careful balance between structure and fruit purity. This élevage enhanced the wine's aromatic complexity while maintaining its natural freshness and vibrant expression of terroir.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep garnet red with violet reflections.
  • Aroma: Intense layers of cherries, raspberries, violets, and hints of dill and rosemary, framed by sweet spices and subtle balsamic touches.
  • Palate: Fresh, juicy, and complex, with vibrant red fruit, spice, and silky, fine-grained tannins. Elegance, depth, and balance define a long, ample finish.

Did you know?

Seña was the first Chilean icon wine, created in 1995 by Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi. Their vision was to craft a Chilean fine wine capable of rivaling Bordeaux First Growths. Today, Seña is distributed through La Place de Bordeaux, a recognition of its international prestige and collectability.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Roast beef with rosemary: The herbal nuances in the wine echo the aromatics of the dish.
  • Wild boar stew: The richness of the wine complements the game's depth and intensity.
  • Duck confit with cherry glaze: Fruit-driven elegance balances the dish's succulence.
  • Aged Comté: The nutty, savory complexity pairs seamlessly with the wine's layered structure.

James Suckling (JS) : 98 Points (2020)
Complex, with savory, spicy character, showing tobacco, salted plums, olives, black cherries, cassis and a hint of white pepper on the nose, followed by a refined, savory, balsamic accent. A full-bodied Seña with juicy fruit chiseling into the tight, extremely fine-grained tannins. Long, bright and still elegant from this warm vintage.

Robert Parker (RP) : 97 Points (2020)
The 2020 Seña is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot (a little higher in search of acidity) from grapes harvested early, the second week of March, and fermented mostly in stainless steel and 10% in concrete eggs. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and good freshness. It's subtle and layered, not only fruit but with more spice; it has polished tannins and very integrated oak after 22 months in barrique, 78% new, and with 10% of the volume in large Stockinger barrels. The warmer years seem to be nicely managed, so that it's not reflected in the ripeness but is more a matter of texture and quality of the tannins; in the warmer years, like 2017 or this 2019, the wines have a little more grip, but these are definitely finer than those from the 2017 vintage. This wine has intensity and complexity, with no mintiness or herbal notes; it's spicy and juicy, with energy and depth. It has structure, color, stuffing and acidity to develop nicely in bottle. (LG)

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 95 Points (2020)
Violets, ripe cherry and red-plum aromas are delicate. Light notes of cinnamon and dried herbs fill up the bouquet. This is one of Chile's iconic wines from a warm vintage in Aconcagua Valley that delivers good concentration of fruit on the ripe palate. Blackberry and cherry flavors are followed by light notes of oak spice. It has lively linear acidity and big tannins. (JV)

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 94 Points (2020)
The 2020 Seña was made in another warm, early-ripening year further complicated by the restrictions that came with the COVID pandemic, which hindered decision-making in the vineyard. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carménère and 7% Petit Verdot, it was aged for 22 months, 90% in French barrels and the rest in foudres. A purplish garnet red, the intense, ripe nose presents notes of herb, blackcurrant and plum while in the mouth the rich balance gives a gentle boost channeled by firm but restrained tannins. Juicy and relaxed with nuanced flavor... (JH)

Sena Sena 2019
Sena Sena 2019
Sena
Sena 2019
RP
98
DCT
97
VN
100
A landmark 25th anniversary vintage, Seña 2019 epitomizes the balance of Chile's Aconcagua terroir, weaving power and finesse into a wine of vibrant energy and graceful longevity.
155,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Sena Sena 2016
Sena Sena 2016
Sena
Sena 2016
WS
95
RP
97
DCT
97
Marked by balance and longevity, Seña 2016 reflects the vision of Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi: crafting a Chilean First Growth through biodynamic viticulture and meticulous winemaking.
155,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Sena Sena 2014
Sena Sena 2014
Sena
Sena 2014
WS
92
RP
95
JS
97
Seña 2014 delivers a complex and concentrated expression of Aconcagua, combining ripe red fruits, herbal nuances, and refined tannins in a wine of great depth and ageing potential.
148,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Sena Sena 2013
Sena Sena 2013
Sena
Sena 2013
WS
91
RP
96
JS
99
Seña 2013 is a wine of purity and finesse, shaped by a long and cool growing season that delivered elegance, freshness, and impeccable balance.
165,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
155,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
We also suggest...
Chile
98 James Suckling
Sena Sena 2016
Sena Sena 2016
Marked by balance and longevity, Seña 2016 reflects the vision of Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi: crafting a Chilean First Growth through biodynamic viticulture and meticulous winemaking.
Sena 2016
155,00 €
Chile
92 Robert Parker
Clos de Luz Azuda Garnacha 2020
Clos de Luz Azuda Garnacha 2020
A refined and expressive Chilean Garnacha from a pioneering plot in Almahue, this wine celebrates innovation, terroir, and Mediterranean character with a South American soul.
Azuda Garnacha 2020
23,90 €
Italy
92 Robert Parker
Ornellaia Le Volte 2022
Ornellaia Le Volte 2022
Le Volte 2022
26,90 €
Argentina
98 James Suckling
Catena Zapata River Malbec 2020
Catena Zapata River Malbec 2020
Sourced from the River sector of Adrianna Vineyard, at an elevation of 1,372 meters (4,500 feet), this wine captures Mendoza’s vibrant acidity, minerality, and concentrated aromas, making it a hallmark of high-altitude winemaking.
River Malbec 2020
175,00 €
Australia
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2019
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2019
A Barossa icon from old-vine sources, Basket Press 2019 delivers layered blackberry and dark chocolate, framed by supple tannins and discreet oak, with the effortless generosity Rockford loyalists covet. Cellar-worthy and utterly satisfying.
Basket Press Shiraz 2019
97,50 €
South Africa
95 Robert Parker
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
This wine offers a pure expression of Helderberg terroir, showcasing Stellenbosch’s potential for world-class Cabernet through elegance and precision.
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
36,90 €