Young and highly talented, Mauricio Lorca (chief winemaker at Enrique Foster and formerly of Chilean-owned giant Finca La Celia, Catena, and Luigi Bosca) started creating his own wines with grapes from his high-altitude vineyards in Vistaflores, Uco Valley, just four years ago. All of these exceptional grapes come from 30 hectares of 5-year old, densely planted, surface-irrigated vineyards that produce 2 pounds per vine of Chardonnay, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

Lorca is also one of the few Argentine winemakers who believes that the true fruit and terroir of a wine should be allowed to shine through; with this philosophy he crafts his Ópalo line without aging the wines in oak at all. The Lorca Fantasía line sees just a touch of oak, and the Poético line is aged for between 6 months and a year in French oak barrels of one use. Lorca’s production levels are extremely low—he produced 1,000 cases of each of the Lorca Fantasia wines, 1,000 cases of each of the Ópalo wines, 875 cases of Poético Cabernet, and 1,100 cases of Poético Malbec in 2005—and his plans don’t include growing much larger. This is a bodega to watch and Lorca is a star on the rise.

 

Fantasía Chardonnay 2010

Ópalo Malbec 2007

Only 1,000 cases were made of this completely unique wine. The grapes come from meticulously tended, low yield, high altitude vineyards in the Valle de Uco. The wine sees no oak at all—it is fermented in stainless steel and aged for a short period in cement tanks, a practice which really allows the pure and juicy fruit really to shine through, unmasked by oak. Deep violet-red color. Very expressive, with spicy aromas of pepper, mint and flowers. Good depth on the palate. Very good structure. Smoothness, elegance and a long finish. So juicy, it just calls out for roast meat!

Robert Parker rated this wine 86 points, saying that it has a medium crimson-colored and offers up a nose of spice box and black cherry. Tasty, ripe, and savory on the palate, this medium- to full-bodied, friendly Malbec is meant to be enjoyed over the next 4 years, between 2009 and 2013.

Ópalo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Approximately 1,000 cases made of this gem, only made in certain years when Lorca feels the quality is good enough. He thinks the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2005 is one of his best ever. Hand harvested, the grapes spend time in cement-lined tanks but never see oak, lending this Cabernet a richness and sophisticated smoothness not often experienced in Argentina Cabernets. Dark berry fruit, as well as a touch of white pepper and cocoa, shine through on the nose and the palate, and there is a rich, gamey undertone which makes this wine a rival to the Malbec in the meat-pairing department.

Robert Parker rated this wine 87 points, saying the 2007 Ópalo Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby-colored with a nose of spice box, violets, black currant, and a hint of eucalyptus in the background. Supple and easy-going on the palate, this is a spicy, flavorful, medium-long Cabernet for near-term drinking.

Lorca Poético Malbec 2006

This blend of 90% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Syrah was aged 12 months in French (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels, and three months in bottle. The vineyard employs high, vertical vine training with very high density—2,772 plants per acre or approximately 1 bottle per plant! Choosing to use oak here, Mauricio Lorca still doesn't overdo it, and this is a structured, elegant blend. It has a deep violet-red color and spicy aromas of black pepper and mint combined with the subtle aroma of French oak. On the palate it is sweet and velvety with a long, persistent finish.

Lorca Poético Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. The grapes come from Mauricio Lorca’s vineyards in Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Mendoza. The wine spends approximately 12 months in French oak and then nearly a year in bottle. Its color is a very attractive, intense red. On the nose it has sweet pepper aromas, along with a red fruit complexity lent by the Malbec, and a smoothness lent by the French oak. Those flavors continue on the palate, where the wine is structured with great tannins and a very long finish.

Lorca Gran Ópalo 2006

Lorca has created one of his best wines ever with this one, of which around 1,500 bottles are made. Here he puts his blending skills to excellent use, perfectly marrying 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 30% Malbec, and 10% Petit Verdot. Each cluster of grapes from Lorca’s vineyards in the Uco Valley is hand selected with only the best grapes going into the wine. In order to allow the fruit and terroir to shine through, Lorca opts not to age the wine in oak, and it is a true treat to taste. The nose explodes with aromas of spices, plums, blackberries, and a note of mint. On the palate it is a delight, and its many layers reveal themselves increasingly as the bottle sits open. This is a genuine masterpiece of unadulterated winemaking.

Robert Parker rated this wine 91 points, saying that it is a un-oaked cuvée raised entirely in stainless steel. The nose offers up wild blueberry and black cherry aromas. On the palate the wine is smooth-textured, ripe, and flavorful and with good depth and richness, followed by a pure finish. Give it 2-3 years to round out and drink it through 2018.

Lorca Gran Poético 2006

This might be the perfect blend, of 70% Malbec, 20% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot. Each grape lends its strength to the mix. Only 3,500 bottles were produced, and Lorca selected the finest grapes from his hand-harvested high altitude vineyards for the wine. It was then aged for 12 months in 90% French and 10% American oak. The complexity of this wine, in its colors, aromas and flavors, is unique among Argentine wines. The Malbec, with its plumy, violet tinged fruit, predominates, but the Syrah adds a meaty, spicy muscle, and the Petit Verdot rounds things out with excellent structure and a tinge of pepper. This is one for the ages, to proudly stand up against any great Bordeaux.

Robert Parker rated this wine 90 points, saying that the wine exhibits a nose of smoke, mineral, blueberry, and black cherry leading to a structured wine which is currently a bit compact on the mid-palate. The flavors are first class, the balance excellent, and the wine should fill out with another 2-3 years of cellaring.

Stephen Tanzer rated this wine 90 points, saying that the wine has a bright ruby-red color and musky aromas of black raspberry and smoked meat. Smooth and sweet; really spreads out to dust the mouth with raspberry and game flavors. A bit of reduction currently mutes the wine's clarity and energy, but this is round, ripe and plush, finishing with fine-grained tannins and lingering sweetness .

Gran Lorca Poético Petit Verdot 2006

One of the only 100% Petit Verdot wines in Argentina, this wine comes from Lorca’s very special high density, low yield vineyards in Vista Flores, Valle de Uco, at 3,445 feet above sea level. A scant 1,500 bottles were produced of this rarity, and a rigorous selection was performed both in the vineyard and in the winery. The wine was then fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 12 months in new oak barrels, 90% French and 10% American. In the glass, it is a brooding deep dark color, giving hints of the intensity to come. Its aromas are extremely varied, from blackberries and raspberries, to chocolate and pepper. On the palate it is elegant yet powerful and exotically spicy, with great balance and a seemingly never-ending finish. This is Petit Verdot as you have never tasted.

Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape and is one of the six approved grapes for making red wines in the Bordeaux region of France. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favor in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, color and flavor to the blend. It has attracted attention among winemakers in the New World, where it ripens more reliably and has been made into single varietal wine.