Dominio do Bibei, `Lapola` White Ribeira Sacra
Vintage: 2021
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | DB302B21 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Founded in 2001 by Javier Dominguez, Dominio do Bibei is widely credited as a driving force behind the quality revolution in Spain’s historic Ribeira Sacra region. Ribeira Sacra’s vines were first planted by the Romans, who came to the area to mine gold. They constructed hundreds of terraced vineyards on the precipitous slopes hugging the curves of the region's three river gorges, the Sil, the Miño and the Bibei. These vineyards were later farmed by monks for several centuries, which inspired the region's name, ‘sacred riverbanks’. Eventually, the devastation of phylloxera, economic depression and civil war drove local families to leave Ribeira Sacra and begin new, easier, lives elsewhere.
In the late 1990s, Javier Dominguez was among an influx of young winemakers attracted by the region’s old vines and untouched, Jurassic landscape. His family bought land in the Bibei valley, Ribeira’s most easterly sub-region, and today they own a 140-hectare estate, of which 45 are planted with vines. Javier has since worked tirelessly to revive the region and its indigenous vines, undertaking what is known locally as ‘heroic viticulture’.
Dominio do Bibei’s vines are grown at varying elevations from 200 to 700 metres, scattered across a large, north-facing hillside with schist and granite soils, flecked with slate, quartz and iron. They source some grapes from bordering vineyards provided they do not face south; freshness and good acidity levels are an obsession at Dominio do Bibei. This is aided by the region’s Atlantic climate, whose average annual rainfall of 700mm is mainly concentrated in the winter and spring. The summer and autumn are drier, with a large diurnal range.
Mencía is Dominio do Bibei’s most widely grown black grape. However, they also use the local Brancellao, Sousón, Mouratón, Alicante Bouschet and Caíño, reflecting the seemingly chaotic vineyards of their predecessors. For whites, Godello and Albariño dominate, with small amounts of Doña Blanca, Treixadura and Torrontés sometimes included. Their grapes are destemmed and aged in various vessels, including modern cement eggs, foudres and old 600-litre barrels.
Dominio do Bibei make four cuvées whose names begin with the letter ‘L’. ‘Lalama’ is a light and fragrant red (90% Mencía) with sappy, redcurrant freshness from grapes grown on the warmest, lower part of the valley. ‘Lacima’ is a blend of Mencía, Brancellao, Mouratón and Sousón from the peak of the hillside. It displays a vivid, black cherry character with a fine, filigree texture. Two white wines are also produced. ‘Lalume’ is a precise, barrel-fermented Treixadura, while the limited ‘Lapola’ is a blend of Godello with Albariño and Doña Blanca.
There are far easier places to make wine than in Ribeira Sacra. Yet Javier Dominguez and his consultant winemakers, Priorat’s Sara Pérez and René Barbier, are united in a common belief in this spectacular landscape, its ancient character and, most of all, its capacity to produce Spain’s most distinctive wines.
Vineyards
Vines are grown at varying altitudes from 400 - 750 metres on sandy granite soils with fine grit and quartz schist. The vines are aged between 14 and 100 years old. The region’s Atlantic climate, with an average annual rainfall of 700mm, mostly concentrated in the winter and spring months, helps retain freshness and acidity in the fruit. The summer and autumn are drier, with a large diurnal range.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage was a challenging year, beginning with an unusual major snowstorm called Filomena sweeping the region. While the vineyards were not covered in snow, the soil was frozen like never before. Growth was slowed due to unstable temperatures and precipitation which caused some concern around potential mildew development. Significant work was required in the vineyard to maintain vine health, and leaves were stripped to allow for ventilation and light. Meticulous work was carried out to ensure the fruit was picked at optimal ripeness. The result of this cold vintage is a wine that radiates juicinesss with great tension and a savoury finish.
Vinification
The grapes were hand picked into 10kg boxes and sorted in the vineyard, with each vineyard parcel vinified separately. The fruit was cold settled for 24 hours prior to being pressed and racked. Fermentation using indigenous yeasts took place in a mix of six-hectolitre barrels, 12 and 24 hectolitre casks and seven hectolitre ovoid concrete tanks. The wine was then racked into a mixture of 600-litre French oak barrels and 1,200 and 2,400-litre Austrian oak foudres of various uses on fine lees for seven months. The second part of the ageing process was performed in ovoid concrete tanks for natural stabilisation. The wine was aged for a total of 12 months before bottling.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
The nose is complex with vibrant aromas of citrus, wild herbs and a distinct minerality. The palate is deep and precise, with excellent acidity and creaminess from the lees contact. It will continue to develop over the next three years.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.79 g/l
Residual Sugar
1.88 g/l
pH
3.22
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dominio do Bibei | `Lalama` Red Ribeira Sacra | DB301 | R | Factsheet | |
`Lacima` Red Ribeira Sacra | DB303 | R | Factsheet | ||
`Lalume` White Ribeiro | DB304 | W | Factsheet |