Facenda Agrícola Augalevada Mercenario 2020
Fazenda Agrícola Augalevada, is one of the Galician wineries that are causing the most talk in recent times. With the recognition and the latest scores from the Wine Advocate magazine (remember that you have free access to the online publications of www.robertparker), through its critic Luis Gutierrez, Iago Garrido has catapulted himself as one of the most demanded winegrowers in Spain . A year ago we offered this wine to the club and it was so well received that we found it very interesting to repeat it in this third vintage that we think is better if possible. We remember information about the winery.
Fazenda Agrícola Augalevada is the winery that gives its name to the project of Iago Garrido and Liliana Lafuente. Located in Rioboó, in the historic center of Ribeiro, on the left bank of the Avia Valley, leaving behind the Monastery of San Clodio and following a winding road up the mountain, you reach the farm, surrounded by vegetation and mountains where you cannot see more civilization than a few animals that Iago himself cares for on his 4-hectare farm. A place that captivates you for its silence and beauty. A small stream runs between the vineyards that divides the estate into two parts, which the older countrymen called “Augalevada”, a name they decided to borrow for their new winery.
Iago and Lili met at the Faculty of Ourense where they were studying Agricultural Engineering with a specialty in Enology. In 2009 they bought the 4 Ha farm where they planted 2.5 Ha of vineyard. with the various autochthonous varieties of the Ribeiro, always closely linked to the idea and knowledge of organic and biodynamic viticulture. In 2013 they built the winery and were certified by Demeter, being the first and only winery with official biodynamic certification in Galicia. The winery is designed by plants to work by gravity so that the care of the grapes and the must is as delicate as possible. The grapes ferment naturally in 500 l amphorae. buried in the basement of the cellar.
Iago is a born nonconformist, idealist and passionate about wines with a soul, he is not satisfied with making good wine, he seeks to get out of his comfort zone and take risks in winemaking and works tirelessly to achieve it. In addition, he is a smart guy and he knows that the sustainability of the ecological project is unsustainable without a parallel project like that of his “Mercenaries”, the “negotiant” line that allows him to have a consistency in production every year. For this, he buys grapes from various winegrowers, from different areas of the Ribeiro, who work organically with which he makes the white Mercenario and red Mercenario. He also collaborates with César Méndez (Terras de Lantaño), a winegrower in Rías Baixas, from whom he has been buying grapes since 2017 and from which Mercenario Parcela Eiravedra and Mercenario Crianza Biolóxica albariño emerged.
The 2019 vintage in Ribeiro was characterized by being an abundant harvest compared to previous vintages. Along with the Ribeira Sacra and Valedeorras, it was the exception with respect to the rest of Galicia and Spain, where the yields were low. The evolution of the life cycle of the vines was characterized by the rains when it was better and a less hot summer in the high areas, without some summer storms causing a special problem. Ripening was perfect and the harvest was abundant in quantity and good quality.
Mercenario tinto 2019 is made with 50% Caíño Longo, the rest being Caíño da terra, Brancellao, Espadeiro and Sousón from the Ribeiras de Arnoia, Avia and Miño valleys. The bunches are gently stepped on and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks for 35 days. After the discovery, 2/3 go to 500 l barrels. and 600 l and 1/3 to a 400 l jar. where it has just fermented and is aged for 10 months.
Tasting: red wine of good intensity on the nose offers crunchy red fruit, notes of violets and lilacs, spicy with subtle mineral nuances. On the palate it is light, easy on the palate, but with more maturity and volume than last year, with very good and good persistence.
Production: 3,600 bottles. 11.7% Alc.
Scoring: not rated yet. 92 Parker in the previous vintage.
Optimal consumption: 2021-2025.
Pairing: cold meats, cheeses, white meats, tuna, roast pork and veal, ham with turnip greens, stews, jerky, peppers ...
