Adega Damm Amandi is a young, quality-focused project in Ribeira Sacra founded in 2017 by Danish importer Martin Damm, who farms steep, terraced vineyards in the Amandi subzone above the Sil River. Cardia Seoane 2022 is one of the estate’s single-vineyard reds, sourced from the west-facing Seoane site in Doade, a slate hillside at roughly 350 meters with vines around 20 years old. The blend is dominated by Mencía (about 80%) with around 20% Garnacha Tintorera, and it comes in at a notably moderate 12.5% alcohol.

The winemaking aims for transparency and finesse rather than heavy extraction. According to producer information, the fruit is fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, with malolactic fermentation in barrel, then aged for about 11 months in neutral French oak barriques (used, Burgundy-style). The broader estate approach emphasizes organic practices and extensive hand work on the region’s demanding slopes.

Professionally, the wine has already landed an excellent review. Vinous awarded the 2022 Cardia Seoane 94 points, calling it “a summum wine from the slate soils of Doade,” a strong endorsement for a relatively new label. Reviewer Joaquín Hidalgo highlights a distinctly aromatic profile, writing that it is “aromatically floral,” with “rose petals, pomegranate, violets and a touch of field herbs on the nose.” That combination suggests a Ribeira Sacra red driven as much by perfume and lift as by dark fruit.

On the palate, Hidalgo describes a wine that is “delicate yet compact, with subtle tension,” pointing to controlled structure and freshness rather than sweetness or oak weight. He finishes by calling it “an ethereal, expressive wine, attractive for its nuances and gentle variations,” framing Seoane as a site-expressive, detail-oriented Mencía meant to be appreciated for shape and finesse as much as for flavor intensity.