Lomba dos Ares is one of the most effortlessly elegant Galician reds we’ve stumbled across. It’s comes from 70-80 year old vines growing on Granitic soils found high up the Val di Bibei near the border with Valdeorras at some 700m above sea level. Whilst predominately Mencia all the old vineyards of this area are inter-planted with other varietals, so there’s little bits of Caino, Mouraton, Souson, Godello and Garnacah Tintorrera in there too. All this adds up to a light bodied, black fruited and pure expression of Ribeira Sacra, full of lively acidity without the alcoholic warmth that can come from more prestigious terroirs in Amandi. There’s a purity and depth to the fruit here that belies it’s quick, light bodied palate.