Lapola 2023 | Ribeira Sacra

Wine Identification
Lapola 2023 is a white wine produced by Dominio do Bibei in the Ribeira Sacra appellation of Galicia, Spain. The vintage is 2023.

Origin and Winemaking
The grapes are sourced from 23 hectares of vineyards located between 400 and 750 meters above sea level. The soils consist of granite, very fine sands, and quartz schists. The vines, aged between 17 and 100 years, are trained using bush-vine (vaso) and double cordon systems. The blend comprises Godello, Albariño, Doña Blanca, and Treixadura.

Vinification involves destemming, pressing, and débourbage. The wine is made in lots according to variety and plot of origin. Fermentation occurs spontaneously in demi-muids, fudres, and oval concrete tanks. The wine undergoes an eight-month aging process; part matures in 600-liter French oak barrels and 1,200- and 2,400-liter Austrian fudres, while the remainder is stabilized in 700-liter oval concrete tanks.

Expected Profile
As a white wine from Ribeira Sacra, Lapola exhibits the complexity typical of the region’s high-altitude, schist-influenced terroir. The use of large-format oak vessels and concrete tanks suggests a style that balances texture with freshness, preserving the aromatic integrity of the Godello, Albariño, Doña Blanca, and Treixadura varieties while imparting subtle structural depth from the spontaneous fermentation.

Critical Reception
The wine has received high marks from major critics: 96 points from Guía Peñín, 93 points from The Wine Advocate (Parker), and 94 points from Tim Atkin. These scores indicate a wine of exceptional quality and concentration for the appellation.

Overall Character
Lapola 2023 represents a sophisticated expression of Dominio do Bibei’s vineyards, combining old vines with meticulous, low-intervention winemaking to produce a structured, aromatic white wine of significant pedigree.