Dominio Do Bibei ‘Lacima’
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Dominio do Bibei Lacima is a highly acclaimed (94 pts Wine Advocate), elegant red from Galicia’s Ribeira Sacra region in northwest Spain.
- Known as the “Sacred Riverbank,” this area features steep riverbanks and dramatic canyons, earning a reputation for its “heroic viticulture” in a challenging environment.
- The grapes come from a selection of six vineyards (Valderodrigo, Requian, Mendoia, Sobrado, San Vicenzo, and A Ribeira) in the Bibei Valley. The vineyards have diverse soils – sandy loam, quartz schists, and fragmented slate and granite.
- The grapes are more than 70 years old.
Varietal Composition: 73% Mencuam 7% Brancellao, 13% A;ocamte Bpiscjet. 7% Mouratón and Sousón
Elaboration: Grapes are hand-harvested and completely destemmed prior to cold pre-maceration. The must ferments slowly in 500-liter French oak barrels and vats, with frequent punch downs and native yeasts. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs in barrels, and the wine ages for 21 months in French oak, then 9 months in foudres before bottling. Stabilization occurs naturally in winter.
Tasting Notes: The nose is as beautiful and as wild as the Bibei Valley hillside. There is all the minerality and floral highlights with red fruit notes and the earthy smoky bits that mark the finish. On the dark, spicy palate, a fine, even vibrant interplay of acidity and fruit unfolds. Always fresh, always balanced and harmonious. It is an astonishingly natural wine that has been made respectfully to expose its origin in all its glory.
PRESS
2020 – 95 James Suckling
2021 – 94 Wine Advocate
2022 – 94 Wine Advocate
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Dominio do Bibei is a low-intervention winery in Galicia’s Ribeira Sacra region, founded in the early 2000s by Javier Domínguez. Located in Manzaneda, Ourense, its steep, dramatic landscapes are known for “heroic viticulture.” The unique schist and granite soils produce elegant, terroir-driven wines. Utilizing gravity-fed production, native yeast, and concrete or old wood instead of stainless steel, the winery adheres to organic and biodynamic principles, with hand-harvested grapes and low yields. Many regard Dominio do Bibei’s wines as a hidden gem of northern Spain, often compared to those from Burgundy.