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Camino Empedrado Amandi by Mauricio Lorca is a concentrated and elegant wine, made for drinking with good food. The native varietals, mostly Mencia with some smaller quantities of Garnacha and Souson, shine with vibrant red and black fruit on the nose and palate, underpinned by a silky texture and whispers of vanilla spice from the time aging in both American and French oak. The result is a graceful, full-bodied red that rewards patience and pairs beautifully with grilled meats, salmon, and wild river fish. A wine of substance and refinement, much like the winemaker himself.
| Grape | 70% Mencia, 20% Garnacha, 10% Souson |
| Style | Dry, Red, Medium to Full Bodied, Red and Black Fruit, Spice, Fresh, Elegant, Food Friendly |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Ribeira Sacra, Galicia |
| Volume | 75cl |
| ABV | 13% |
| Dietary | None |
About the Producer
Mauricio Lorca did well at school and college and was all set to go to medical school to train to be a doctor until, one day, a group of viticulture students came to give a talk to his year group. Mauricio went home to tell his Mum… I’m going to be a winemaker! What a shock that must have been for proud Mrs Lorca. What a stroke of luck for us.
This was many years ago when winemaking in Argentina wasn’t such a reputable career as it has become these days. Mauricio got straight down to it and worked his way up the ladder with winemaking roles at Catena, Luigi Bosca and Finca La Celia, sometimes taking risky decisions in the vineyards to prove a point to dissenting voices around him who were less open to change than he, and to fine tune a style that he has pioneered in Mendoza – top class wines without any oak ageing. Mauricio’s high-density, high-altitude vineyards are in his beloved Vista Flores in the Uco Valley; and his apparently ever-expanding winery is situated in Luján de Cuyo. It’s essentially a no-frills operation with the energy and solid work ethic of every employee channelled into getting the job done with efficiency and aplomb. There’s an honesty about the place that comes across in the wines.
When Mauricio’s new neighbours in Spain met him and asked what he was up to there was much head scratching and a fair bit of bemusement. When they tasted the purity and freshness of his Spanish wines – new champions of these fabulous old varietals – they were stunned and seriously impressed. The Supplier, Ucopia Wines, went to visit Mauricio in Galicia at the beginning of the project a few years ago and he explained one of the key differences here compared to his operation in Mendoza. In Mendoza he has a talented team around him. In Spain he does pretty much everything himself! Maybe that’s just one of the many reasons why these wines are so damn good.
Vineyard and Winery
The viticulture in Ribeira Sacra is based on different pillars that make it heroic. Layout: The vineyards are located on terraces along the Sil and Miño rivers, with slopes ranging from 40% to 70%.
Vineyard management: All cultural activities related to the vine are carried out manually. Ancient vineyards: The vineyards are centuries-old and have been cultivated since the Roman era.
Unique terroir: The influence of the Cantabrian Sea, rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean, combined with the continental climate, allows the grapes to mature, with natural acidity being a prominent characteristic. The soils have slate, pebble, sand, and granite characteristics.
Harvest: Between late September and early October. It is essential to consider the orientation of the vineyards, with south-facing plots, more exposed to the sun, being harvested earlier than those facing north. Alcohol: 14.30. Residual Sugar: 1.8 g/L.
Aging: 9 months of aging, 70% American oak barrel, 30% French oak barrel, both first-use, followed by two years in the bottle. Number of bottles produced: 4000.