2015 Sena Valle de Aconcagua Chile 750 ml

Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick created Viña Seña in 1995 with the express purpose of challenging the world’s greatest red wines. It was a gauntlet thrown down to Oakville and Pauillac from the wind-streaked foothills of the Andes.

2015 will go down in the history books as a vintage that Viña Seña winemaker Francisco Baettig called “the culmination of a 20-year vision.” With the Seña Valle de Aconcagua, they scored 100 points from James Suckling and took their place as worthy competitor to First Growths and cult Napa Cabs.

Chadwick and the Mondavi family believed deeply in the promise of Chile’s terroir, but first they had to locate a spot that would deliver decades of world-class results. They found it on 111 acres in the Aconcagua Valley, and you might not find many vineyards like it in all of South America. 

Winds blow in off the Pacific, moderating the Mediterranean climate. Pure mountain water flows down from the snow-capped Andes to irrigate the vines. Sunny days with clear blue skies and cool nights cycle like clockwork. The rocky, gravelly soils, interspersed with boulders, have proved ideal for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère.

The 2015’s blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc reflects a growing season that was warm yet produced wines low in alcohol and high in acidity. That vibrancy received a warm embrace from the new oak foudres in which 12%  of the wine rested and the French oak barrels (65% new) that housed the remainder, both aging for 22 months.

One of the best bottles to come out of Chile, it’s a stunning classic now that also has a long life ahead.