Domaine Lupier’s “La Dama” Garnacha is one of Spain’s most exciting wines to try each release, which hasn’t been every year! The 2023 edition doesn’t disappoint, bringing plenty of that classic, delicious Garnacha character, while carrying the distinctive accent of its home and brilliant winemaker.
With Spain’s vine-growing going back millennia, you can find tucked-away plots of thick, old, scraggly bush-vines that are capable of making truly exceptional wines. This is exactly what humble superstar winemaker and proprietor of Domaine Lupier, Raul Perez, seeks out for his passion projects. His flagship “La Dama” Garnacha comes from a vineyard planted in 1903 near San Martin de Unx, a small village in the high hills of the Navarra region (just east of Rioja).
This Mediterranean scrubland lies high enough up for warm - not scorching – summers, and cool nights. That helps make Lupier’s Garnacha more aromatic and refreshing, even ethereal, with an abv of just 13.5%! You can find subtle notes of woodsy spice (like white peppercorn), a swirl of florals (violet), Mediterranean herb (like sage), a core of raspberry and cherry, orange zest, and subtle brown spice (like star anise & clove). The fruit texture is juicy & rounded, but infused with a wash of mineral sensations, finishing with a fine coating of crunchy tannin. Generous, but light on its feet, there’s more finesse and energy here than in most Spanish Garnachas. It’s this refined take on such a gregarious grape that earned the 2023 “La Dama” a 98-point review from Wine Advocate!
Domaine Lupier farms organically and biodynamically, without irrigation, and fermentation occurs with the native yeasts.
WINE ADVOCATE 98 POINTS - "[Compared with the entry-point "Terroir" bottling,] the more delicate, ethereal and fine 2023 La Dama has a paler color and is fragrant and subtle, with a sense of fragility and delicacy like no vintage before. The grapes from the lower part of the main vineyard, called Lupier, where you find less slate (but still slate), were picked in early September and were vinified with 100% full clusters and a long maceration. The higher part was vinified separately and might be released as a new single-vineyard wine; but there are only a couple of barrels of it, and they have not yet decided what to do. The alcohol level is contained, at around 13.5%. It's precise, clean and focused and has purity of aromas and flavors, a delicate texture, super fine tannins, balance and lots of energy. The two wines are now more different than ever. It's really stunning, bravo! 2,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2025." - Luis Gutierrez
