Dominio Do Bibei ‘Lalume’
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Dominio do Bibei Lalume is a highly regarded white 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 aged 17 to 35 years.
- The grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Avia and Arnoia Valleys, with diverse soils including sand, decomposed granite (sábrego), clay, and schist.
Varietal Composition: 88% Treixadura, 6% Albariño, 5% Godello, 1% Caíño Branco, Torrontés & Loureira
Elaboration: Grapes are hand-picked and pressed whole without destemming. Vinification is carried out separately by size, soil, and altitude, followed by 12 hours of débourbage in stainless-steel tanks. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts takes place in various containers, including neutral barriques and concrete tanks, without malolactic fermentation. The wine ages in larger stainless-steel tanks, in contact with the fine lees.
Tasting Notes: Perfumed with white flowers, herbs, and fine rock dust. Discreet but incredibly engaging, subtly beguiling. The palate is also of incredible clarity, precision, and straightforwardness. Wonderfully salty and phenolic, and stretched long on the lingering, saline finish. The rock flour spreads in the mouth, followed by a slightly citrusy, herbal trace across the tongue. The wine is so wonderfully fresh and yet so incredibly elegant.
PRESS
2020 – 2020 – 93 Wine Advocate | 93 Vinous | 92 James Suckling
2021 – 94 James Suckling
2022 – 92 Wine Advocate
2023 – 94 Wine Advocate | 93 Vinous
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.