2019 Dominio Do Bibei Lalama

You can safely visit the flat vineyards of Ch. Driving past Pétrus without ever feeling for a moment that it is a special terroir: the secret is hidden in the soil. While one breathtaking view of the steep slopes of the Moselle (especially the Terrassenmosel), the Douro valley, the Priorat or Côte Rôtie is enough to make our wine heart beat faster. What makes a person plant vines in such impossible places? It approaches the obsession of an alchemist who wants to extract liquid gold from the stones.

Grapes such as Mencia, Brancellao, Merenzao, Souson, Caino Tinto, Mouraton, Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante) and also white grapes such as Godello, Treixadura, Albarino, Loureira, Dona Blanca and Torrontés were planted on a sparse soil of slate and granite. At least two of these grapes have the inherent class to grow into absolute toppers: Mencia in red and Godello in white. But just about all insiders agree that the magical combination of the noble Mencia grape and the dramatic terroirs of the Ribeira Sacra creates fireworks. Dominio do Bibei is a recent project of the local Dominguez family with consultants 'Priorat' couple Sara Perez (Mas Martinet) and René Barbier Jr (Clos Mogador). They bought old vineyards and also planted new ones. In total they make four wines: the limited top cuvées Lacima (Mencia) and Lapena (Godello) and then the white Lapola (60% Godello with Treixadura, Dona Blanca and Torrontes) and the red Lalama (85% Mencia with Garnacha Tintoreira, Brancellao and Mouraton). Is this Spanish? Definitely forget Rioja, Ribera del Duero or Priorat. Definitely think of Burgundy. Perhaps the best kind of Chinon. Perhaps also the minerality of Côte Rôtie. However, nothing can exactly approach that special mix of crispy fruit, sizzling minerality, stimulating acidity and playful lightness. This is unique, simply incomparable, highly original: this is Ribeira Sacra & Dominio Do Bibei