Rocas de Sena 2022 Vina Sena

Tasting Notes

First impressions: black plum and black currant, with graphite notes. Malbec plays the dominant role. The wine is characterized by firm tannins, a long finish with pleasant sweetness, and an iron-like mineral note typical of granite soil. It is fresher than the 2021 vintage and, for a second wine, has turned out to be unexpectedly rich. It can be enjoyed right now with food or allowed to age for about 5 years.

Grape Varieties

In the 2022 vintage, Malbec takes center stage, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carmenère accentuate its character.

• Cabernet Sauvignon (21%): structure, notes of black currant and graphite
• Petit Verdot 9%
• Malbec (33%): rich plum flavor and undertones
• Syrah 25%
• Mourverdre 7%
• Grenache 5%

The wine is aged for 19 months in French Barriques.

Cellaring Potential

Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2032. The tannins typical of Cabernet remain firm, and thanks to the concentration resulting from the 2022 drought, this vintage has a more robust structure than other second-wine vintages. Store horizontally at a temperature of 12–14 °C. Over the next five years, as the primary fruit notes settle, nuances of paprika and graphite are expected to come to the fore.

The Producer

The story of Vina Sena began with a single road trip. In 1991, when Eduardo Chadwick accompanied Robert Mondavi on a tour of Chile’s wine-growing regions, Mondavi advised him: “If you want Chile to appear on the world wine map, you should produce Bordeaux-style wines.” After four years of searching for a suitable plot, they decided to settle in the hilly terrain of Ocoa in the Aconcagua region. The decisive factor in their subsequent success was that, at the 2004 blind tasting, the 2001 "Sena" finished ahead of wines such as Margaux and Latour, beaten only by the 2000 Château Lafite Rothschild. We continue to include this winery in our selection because there is no other producer in Chile that combines, at such a high level, a cool location on the Pacific coast, biodynamic farming methods, and ambitions comparable to those of Bordeaux.

Terroir & Climate

This vineyard is located in the hilly terrain above Ocoa, about 40 km inland from the Pacific coast. Thanks to its relatively close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, a cool sea breeze blows into the valley every afternoon, and this is its main advantage. Without this breeze, the climate in Aconcagua would be too warm for the Cabernet to retain its freshness. The soil consists of weathered granite, colluvial deposits, and volcanic rock, and all these components ensure good drainage. The vines are forced to root deeply in search of moisture, which helps keep yields low and increases concentration. The sharpness characteristic of granite gives the wine an iron-like minerality.

Winemaking

An important decision for Sena is how sparingly to use oak barrels in the production of such an ambitious wine. The grapes are harvested by hand; after sorting and destemming, they are fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion fermented in concrete tanks. Aging takes place for approximately 18–22 months, primarily in French oak barrels—mostly new barriques (225-liter Bordeaux barrels)—while a portion of the wine is also aged in larger foudres. These large casks impart texture to the wine without bringing vanilla and toasted bread aromas to the forefront. This is precisely why the fruity notes and the minerality characteristic of granite stand out clearly and are not overshadowed by the aromas of the barrel.

Food Pairing

Proteins and fats are needed to balance the strong tannins characteristic of Cabernet. It is recommended to pair this wine with a local Chilean asado or with lomo vetado cooked over charcoal (so that the fat drips directly into the fire). “Pastel de choclo” is also recommended, as the sweetness of the corn creates an exquisite contrast with the notes of black currant. Lamb with merkén (Chilean smoked pepper) also pairs superbly with this wine. Hard cheeses, such as aged Manchego, are also a good match. Serve at 16–18 °C, decanting the wine 30 minutes before serving.