Bancroft

2020 Seña, Aconcagua Valley
£515 per 6 bottle case in bond

‘Complex, with savory, spicy character, showing tobacco, salted plums, olives, black cherries, cassis and a hint of white pepper on the nose, followed by a refined, savory, balsamic accent. A full-bodied Seña with juicy fruit chiseling into the tight, extremely fine-grained tannins. Long, bright and still elegant from this warm vintage. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 25% malbec, 15% carmenere and 7% petit verdot. A wine with lots of harmony now, but better to drink from 2025.’ 98 points, James Suckling         
 
‘The 2020 Seña is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot (a little higher in search of acidity) from grapes harvested early, the second week of March, and fermented mostly in stainless steel and 10% in concrete eggs. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and good freshness. It’s subtle and layered, not only fruit but with more spice; it has polished tannins and very integrated oak after 22 months in barrique, 78% new, and with 10% of the volume in large Stockinger barrels. The warmer years seem to be nicely managed, so that it’s not reflected in the ripeness but is more a matter of texture and quality of the tannins; in the warmer years, like 2017 or this 2019, the wines have a little more grip, but these are definitely finer than those from the 2017 vintage. This wine has intensity and complexity, with no mintiness or herbal notes; it’s spicy and juicy, with energy and depth. It has structure, color, stuffing and acidity to develop nicely in bottle’ 97 points, Luis Gutiérrez

2020 Rocas de Seña, Aconcagua Valley
£215 per 6 bottle case in bond

‘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.’ 96 points, James Suckling
 
‘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’ 93 point, Luis Gutiérrez