Sena 2003

The 2003 Sena reflects the best of the Aconcagua Valley. Fruit-forward and lush, it is full of blueberry, blackberry, cherry, and licorice aromas balanced by smoky notes and vanilla from its French oak aging. The mouth-feel is soft and luxurious, full of sweet ripe tannins and a finish that lingers long on the palate. This wine is delightful today, but will improve in the bottle over the next ten years for even greater pleasure in the future.

Food pairings: Roasts, grilled meats, game, duck, beef.

"In contrast to the 2002, the 2003 Sena is more primary and more complete. It is purple-colored with an expressive array of pain grille, clove, espresso, earth, black currants, and blackberry. This is followed by a wine which admirably combines power and elegance. There are layers of sweet fruit, and the oak, tannin, and acidity are nicely integrated. Cellar this superior effort for another 4-6 years and drink it through 2030.

Sena was originally a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick. The first vintage was in 1995 and in 1999 the Sena Hillside Vineyard was purchased. Currently, all the grapes going into Sena come from this biodynamically farmed vineyard. It is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Franc. In a typical vintage Sena is about three-fourths Cabernet Sauvignon although in 2003, Cabernet Sauvignon composed 52% of the blend and Merlot 40%. The wine is aged for 18 months in predominantly new French oak."
Wine Advocate