DOWNLOAD TECHNICAL SHEET

Winery: Dominio do Bibei

Country / Region: Spain / Galicia - Ribeira Sacra

Date Winery was established: 2001

Grape Variety: Mencia

First Vintage Released: 2003

Alcohol Content / Volume: 13% / 750ml

Ratings: 91 pts Cellar Tracker

Good To Know: Dominio do Bibei is one of Galicia’s most acclaimed wineries, located in the rugged Ribeira Sacra region of north-west Spain. Founded in 2001, the estate tends steep, terraced vineyards planted mainly with indigenous varieties such as Mencía, Brancellao and Mouratón for reds, and Godello and Albariño for whites. Situated at elevations between 350 and 920 metres on schist, slate and granite soils, the vines are farmed by hand and the gravity-flow winery is built into the hillside to preserve the natural freshness and character of the grapes.

Their wines are admired for their purity, minerality and elegance, showcasing the distinctive terroir of Ribeira Sacra with vibrant red and dark berry fruit, floral and herbal notes, and a fresh, balanced palate. Signature labels such as *Lalama*, *Lacima*, *Lapola* and *Lalume* have become benchmarks for authentic Galician wine, making Dominio do Bibei an essential choice for those seeking distinctive, small-production Spanish reds and whites.

Dominio do Bibei Lalama 2022 is an evocative, Atlantic-influenced red wine born from the dizzyingly steep, terraced granite and slate slopes of Galicia’s D.O. Ribeira Sacra (Quiroga-Bibei). Built predominantly around Mencía (~90%) complemented by small additions of native varieties including Brancellao, Mouratón, Sousón, and Garnacha Tintorera, it was fermented with wild yeasts and matured for around 13 to 14 months in seasoned French oak barrels and large foudres, followed by patient resting in bottle. The nose is lifted, ethereal, and fragrant, offering aromas of wild raspberries, sour red cherries, and pomegranate interlaced with dried violet blossoms, wet slate, and wild mountain scrub herbs. On the palate, it exhibits Burgundian fluidity and cool-climate tension—delivering a juicy, transparent core of red fruit framed by fine-boned, silky tannins and energetic acidity that flow into a long, savory, and granite-driven mineral finish.