Adega Damm Amandi is a small, quality-focused project in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia, working some of the region’s most dramatic, slate-rich hillside vineyards above the Sil River. The winery is associated with Danish vintner Martin Damm, and its steep terraces require traditional, manual viticulture—work that, according to an importer note, is carried out entirely by hand because mechanization isn’t practical on these slopes. The 2023 Canela de Viña Cazoga is presented as a single-vineyard wine from Viña Cazoga, made from 100% Mencía grown on very old, “cepas centenarias” vines rooted in slate.

In critical terms, the wine arrives with an excellent review from Vinous. Joaquín Hidalgo scores the 2023 at **96 points**, calling it “concentrated and juicy, with a long, flavorful finish.” Hidalgo’s note outlines a style that is aromatic but not simple, starting with “an herbal character of mint and pennyroyal,” then moving into florals—“violet”—and a more savory edge, including “a lightly reductive note of blood orange.” Those details point to a Mencía that leans into Ribeira Sacra’s cooler, stony profile rather than ripe sweetness.

On the palate, Vinous emphasizes structure and tension. Hidalgo reports that “tannins dominate the palate with fine, reactive grip,” while “black fruit emerges in the background.” In other words, fruit is present, but it’s framed by firm, shaping tannins and a distinctly herbal-floral register rather than overt ripeness. The overall impression, as described by Vinous, is of a tightly built, concentrated red that still keeps energy and freshness through the finish.

Technical details such as élevage and alcohol are not disclosed in the available material, but the positioning is clear: a limited, terroir-driven old-vine Mencía from one of Ribeira Sacra’s most demanding hillside sites.