Those who have never experienced Luis Anxo Rodriguez Vásquez’ wines are missing out on some of the most inspiring and rare wines in Europe. Sommeliers and collectors—especially Burgundy devotées—pursue Luis’ wines with a zeal normally only reserved for wines many times this price. The property’s reputation is well known and respected, but the wines are so limited that many sommeliers I know have never enjoyed even one bottle. It’s a vicious cycle—every year Luis’ reputation grows, demand for his wines increases, and less bottles are made available for the US market. As is the case every year, only a tiny amount of today’s wine, Luis’ increasingly sought-after 2015 “Eidos Ermos” red, arrived on the West Coast recently and we can’t wait to share it with you

Galicia is a large region in northwest Spain, wedged between the Basque country and Portugal’s northern border. The area’s cold Atlantic climate does not make for easy farming, but it is ideal for producing wines of impressive finesse and mineral purity. Galicia’s top red wines combine the finesse of Burgundy, the savor of Saumur-Champigny and the brooding depth of the northern Rhône—all tied together with an electricity and aromatic profile that is uniquely Spanish.

For me, the single most electrifying producer in the Galicia region is Luis Anxo Rodriguez Vásquez. He farms just five hectares spread across over 100 miniscule vineyard parcels in the rural Galician village of Arnoia. This is a densely wooded area, and his vines cling to the granite hillside at 1,000 feet elevation. There are numerous grape varieties, soil sub-types, and microclimates in Arnoia and each express their own voice brilliantly in Luis’ various cuvées. After studying viticulture and enology at the University of Madrid, Luis made numerous pilgrimages to the great appellations of Europe before bottling his first vintage in 1988. Almost three decades later, Luis' one-man show has earned a singular status in the region. Simply put, these are some of the best and most cellar-worthy wines produced in Spain.

Luis Anxo Rodriguez Vázquez 2015 Ribeiro “Eidos Ermos” is a blast of purple, magenta and brilliant red in the glass. It looks like it tastes: Energy, energy, energy! Crunchy, electric red fruit on the palate is kept in line by an ever present dose of tart, juicy acidity and classic mineral tang. If like me, you love vibrant young village Burgundies, top Cru Beaujolais and the savory, mineral refreshment of Chinon, this is a wine for you. It’s just so easy and enjoyable to drink.

As I always suggest with Luis’ red wines, you should approach them in two ways. First, set aside two or three bottles for your cellar. Even this, Luis’ most humble and young-drinking wine, will evolve into an exotic butterfly with a few more years in bottle. Red fruits will become mushrooms and herbs; the wine’s mouthwatering acid will soften; and this bright and energetic wine will mature into something more nuanced and wise. This ever-changing, always improving “chameleon” quality is what makes Luis’ wines so collectible, and it sets them apart from most red wines in this corner of Spain. The second and equally appealing option for enjoying this wine is to drink it immediately! Simply decant for 30 minutes and serve at cellar temperature in a Burgundy stem. I’ve discovered that this 2015 vintage dances as perfectly with fish as it does with Spain’s richer pork preparations. So, why not split the difference with Jamie Oliver’s irreverent bacon-wrapped cod? This isn’t a delicate dish, but I’m confident today’s wine has the vigor to do it justice. Enjoy it!