2017 Dominio do Bibei "Lalama" Ribeira Sacra

Dominio do Bibei is a project based in the Bibei valley in D.O. Ribeira Sacra, near the village of Manzaneda in northwest Spain. The vines are located on terraced clay and slate vineyards, biodynamically farmed, and the wine vinified in concrete eggs and variously sized, used oak barrels and foudres. Since the primary grape, Mencia (tiny quantities of Mouraton and Garnacha Tintorera are blended in), tends naturally towards reduction, this style of winemaking seems to make perfect sense to create balanced, elegant wines. Organically cultivated fruit on beautiful vineyards, biodynamic practices, thoughtful winemaking. Soft plum and red fruit flavors also show a savory streak, not dissimilar to really good northern Rhône Syrah, in this case perhaps somewhere between St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage in style - a benchmark wine and well worth trying!