Dominio Do Bibei ‘Lalama’
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Dominio do Bibei Lalama is a refined red wine 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 for Dominio Do Bibei Lalama come from plots with vines ranging from 27 years to over 100 years old.
- The vineyards have diverse soils—slate, clay, and granite—and are situated at altitudes of 300 to 700 meters above sea level.
Varietal Composition: 85% Mencia, 7% Brancellao, 4% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Mouratón and Sousón
Elaboration: Grapes are grown using the Goblet and Double Cordon training systems and are hand-picked. They are processed by soil type, fermented in French oak conical tanks with wild yeasts, and then smooth-macerated. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs in 300 and 500-liter barrels. The wine is aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, with 10% renewed annually, and the rest in 15- and 30-hectoliter foudres. After aging, it spends an additional 3 months in conical tanks and is naturally stabilized before a minimum of 6 months of bottle aging.
Tasting Notes: Rich and swimming in dense, black-blueberry-like fruit, it has a wonderful underbelly of minerality and a strong aromatic floral character. An exotic, riveting red with bits of violets and a dusting of wood spice. Real wine that invites you to drink the entire bottle.
PRESS
2020- 93 Wine Advocate | 92 James Suckling
2021 – 94 James Suckling | 94 Vinous | 93 Wine Advocate
2022 – 93 Vinour | 92+ 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.