Most Spanish wine lovers know Galicia for Albariño, that fresh, aromatic white, but the region holds far greater treasures—especially in the rugged Bibei Valley of Valdeorras, where Spanish icon Telmo Rodríguez has devoted himself to rescuing ancient parcels of red vines.
His crown jewel is As Caborcas, a 2.5-hectare single vineyard perched above the Bibei River, a site so prized by generations of Galician farmers that its name literally means “vineyard by the little river.” Here, 80+ year-old native vines of Mencía, Merenzao, Sousón, Godello, and Brancellao yield a wine of haunting complexity: imagine the meat and mineral depth of Hermitage Syrah meeting the grand cru elegance of Clos de Vougeot Burgundy—at a fraction of the price.
The 2022 vintage bursts with wild black fruits, savory spice, and a mineral backbone, its silky tannins wrapped in Atlantic freshness. The 2021 vintage showed more restrained elegance, with lifted floral aromatics and finely etched tannins, underscoring the grand cru nature of the site. Together, they reveal the dual personality of As Caborcas—at once powerful and refined, deeply rooted in Galicia’s terroir.
Praised with 96 points by Wine Advocate, As Caborcas is produced in minuscule quantities, with organic viticulture, hand harvesting, and low-intervention winemaking. It is showcased only in the finest Spanish-themed restaurants across the US and Europe. For our VIP collectors, we are proud to offer the nation’s best price on two or more bottles—a rare chance to secure one of Spain’s most transcendent red wines before it disappears from the marketplace.
96 Points, Wine Advocate:
"This wine that changed the perception of Galician reds in 2010, and the 2021 As Caborcas is lighter and more aromatic, reflecting a more Atlantic but challenging year when they had to work hard to deliver this beauty. The vines are over 80 years of age and are a mixture of varieties planted on poor granite soils in terraces overlooking the Bibei River. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in small stainless steel and oak vats and matured in 1,500- and 2,000-liter foudres for 15 months. This is the more serious of the 2021 reds; it is nuanced, elegant and insinuating and less aromatic than the others. It's textured and elegant, fine-boned and fine-grained, with a sense of great harmony."
