Dominio do Bibei 'Lalama' Ribeira Sacra Tinto, 2021

This wine is made of 85% Mencia, and 15% of a combination of Brancellao, Mouratón, Sousón, and Alicante Bouschet. An extremely tough vintage full of weather variation produced slightly bigger wines, but with a silkier texture and more vibrant fruit character than other years. The wine undergoes a very long maceration and aging in large French oak, 10% new, so as not to mask the supple fruit Mencia and co. have to offer. We would enjoy it with grilled octopus over boiled potatoes, topped with olive oil and paprika, or with a hearty parillada.