Rocas de Seña 2020, Errazuriz

A new wine, this is the 2nd wine of Seña and made with all the care and attention to detail of its iconic big brother.  Such has been the clamour for this wine after it received some very impressive reviews from top wine critics, it’s sadly now in very short supply.

38% Malbec, 25% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Grenache, 8% Petit Verdot.

Producer notes –

Origin: Rocas de Seña takes its name from the rocky soils found in the Aconcagua Valley in tribute to its geography. Those soils lend unique characteristics to the wine, and the large volcanic rocks are reminiscent of the holistic landscape in the vineyard. The launch of Seña’s second wine aims to continue exploring the expression of our terroir with a unique blend from selected blocks of our Seña vineyard and the addition of the Mediterranean varieties that flourish in the Aconcagua Valley to deliver elegance and a youthful freshness.

Terroir: Rocas de Seña comes from lots of Seña that might not be included in the first wine depending on how their quality is judged during the blending tastings and additional nearby plots of Mediterranean varieties owned by the family since 1999. The North-East exposure of these plots contributes to a higher heat summation than in the Seña estate, so it allows for the perfect ripening of Syrah and Grenache that are presenting an outstanding quality in the valley.

Style: Rocas de Seña is produced with the same meticulous care as Seña, expressing its personality given a higher proportion of Malbec and the addition of Mediterranean varieties Syrah and Grenache. The result is a youthful and lively wine with good density and smooth texture, all involved by vibrant and juicy acidity. It is a wine with great elegance and intensity that can be enjoyed when young while waiting for the first wine to open with age in the cellar.

96 points, James Suckling, Aug ‘22 “Focused nose, showing fresh red chili chocolate with cigar, truffle, mint, olive and grilled meat. This is a medium-to full-bodied red with incredibly juicy and bright fruit and fine, caressing tannins that linger in the long, creamy but precise finish. Elegant and extremely drinkable with complexity. on top of 38% malbec, 25% syrah, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 14% grenache and 8% petit verdot. The real deal. Second wine of Seña. Drink or hold.”

93 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Aug ‘22 “A new second wine here, the 2020 Rocas de Seña is named after the rocky soils from Seña is different as it includes Mediterranean grapes in the blend. This is the first vintage produced, and it’s a blend of 38% Malbec, 25% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Grenache (from their property in Vertientes, where the Syrah also comes from) and 8% Petit Verdot from selected plots from their property in Aconcagua. 2020 was warm and dry and saw an early harvest that delivered concentrated and powerful wines, this one at 14% alcohol and with a pH of 3.53 and 6.09 grams of acidity. It fermented mostly in stainless steel and 10% in concrete eggs, and the blend matured for 22 months in French oak barrels, 65% of them new. The nose is very expressive, and the palate is juicy and textured palate, a little warmer and riper than the Seña, with that Mediterranean twist from the Garnacha and Syrah. It has an intense nose, quite primary, with red berries, herbs and even a citrus touch, but there is no sweetness at all. The fine tannins have grip, and the finish is dry and serious. The élevage was similar to the Seña, but in the future, they might go for a slightly shorter élevage and use some foudres. The wine has a very nice bright color and is still young and lively, very much in the serious and elegant style of the Seña, despite the warm inaugural vintage, showing in the juicy palate. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2022.”