2006 Sena Dry Red

The 'Global Financial Crisis' has not stopped people from enjoying wine, but it has made many people more price-sensitive. Reports from retailers, restauranteurs and industry analysts indicate that consumers are buying as much wine as they did a year ago, though they're spending much less. Naturally, the big beneficiaries are those that can offer outstanding wines at bargain prices. Chile is one of these. The last five or six vintages have been very good, with many believing that the 2007 vintage reds will surpass the exceptional 2005 and 2003 vintages in quality. As challenging as this might make things for Australian and New Zealand producers, it presents an opportunity for Chilean wines to move up the scale in price and prestige and enter the middle segment of the market, at least so long as Chile's winemakers can resist the temptation to return to the 'bargain basement'. With land and labour costs still far below those of 'premier' regions like Bordeaux or the Barossa, Chilean winemakers have known for some time that if they can focus on quality, they can over-deliver at almost any price point. The perception of Chile as a producer solely of inexpensive but pleasant, value for money wines has been difficult to shrug off. It was abruptly skewed with the release of Eduardo Chadwick's 'Sena' in 1995. Such truly great (and expensive AU$100+) offerings have now placed the country firmly in the company of the best wines in the world, despite having little track record in comparison to Europe's greatest estates. In the last two decades, several ambitious Chilean producers have attempted to define the limits of Chile's viticultural potential by producing an ultimate expression of terroir. Known as 'icon wines', the success of the most famous example, 'Sena', is partly attributable to the flamboyant promotional efforts of its creator, Eduardo Chadwick, a fifth generation family member of Vina Errazuriz. In particular, it was Chadwick's organising of international tastings and seminars that put Sena in the limelight. Starting at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Berlin, Chadwick invited forty of Europe's leading wine writers, critics, sommeliers and trade to taste 'blind' a selection of the world's finest wines, including Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite, Sassacaia and Tignanello from the 2000 and 2001 vintages. "...The event promised a David-and-Goliath-style contest between Chile and some of France's and Italy's top wine estates...But it was Chile that bagged three of the top five scores". Sena came out on top. Andrew Catchpole, wine writer for UK's Daily Telegraph, who took part in the tasting reflected afterwards "...I had always thought of Seña and Viñedo Chadwick and several other expensive cult wines over-priced and overhyped. Berlin changed my mind. Given the choice of a bottle of Lafite for £285 or six Seña with change to spare, the Chilean newcomers suddenly look remarkably good value. The real lesson of Berlin is not to let price or labels pull the wool over your eyes. Neither is a guarantee of quality." Tasting Notes: The 2006 Sena release is a brilliant follow up to our first shipment, a wine that had many seasoned wine lovers declaring Sena to be one of the finest reds they'd tried. The blend is composed of 55% Cabernet (for structure), 16% Merlot (for rich berry flavour),10% Carmenère (for spice and black pepper flavours), 13% Petit Verdot (for colour) and 6% Cabernet Franc (for ripe raspberry flavours). The wine has been matured for 18 months in French Oak. Opaque black crimson colour with black crimson mauve hue. Lifted aromatics, classic cabernet blend nose. Top note of violets followed by spice, mulberry and truffle. Velvet smooth tannin structure. Mouthfilling flavours of mulberry, dark chocolate and blackcurrant over a spicy background. Excellent length and depth. Very long aftertaste of mulberry, spice and violet infusions.
Cellar 5-8 years (2014-2017)
Alc/Vol: 14.5% Other Reviews...
...delivers a superb aromatic array of wood smoke, pencil lead, espresso, incense, blackcurrant, and blackberry. This is followed by a Pauillac-like, concentrated yet elegant wine with layers of spicy fruit, well-concealed structure, superb grip, and a fruit-filled, lengthy finish. Like a great vintage of Bordeaux, it will profit from a minimum of a decade of cellaring."
95 points
Jay Miller, eRobertParker.com # 183 June 2009.

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