"(90% tempranillo and 10% cabernet sauvignon; aged for two years in new French oak): Bright ruby. Sexy strawberry, raspberry and vanillin oak spices on the nose, along with hints of Asian spices and smoked meat. Deeper and darker on the palate, offering powerful red and dark berry liqueur flavors, with energetic minerality adding vivacity. Finishes with serious grip, juiciness and persistence, leaving a sexy vanila note behind. - JR"
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September 2013), 93 pts
Go To Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta de las Liebres
"The 2009 Cuesta Las Liebres is a blend of Tinto Fino (97%), Cabernet Sauvignon (2%) and Merlot (1%) from a high-altitude, sloped single-vineyard on very chalky soil that names the wine. It-s the first wine from Carraovejas that feels very oaky and whose tannins are chunky - perhaps the result of being aged for two years in barrel. While it has great fruit, acidity, power and clout, it is the only wine where the oak is clearly above the wine. In the context of the wines produced at the winery, this is the only question mark. Wait. Drink 2016-2022. - Luis Gutierrez"
"Tremendous in its bearing, Cuesta de las Liebres is predominantly tinto fino (96 percent), the balance cabernet and merlot, all of it aged for 25 months in new barriques. This is grand in every sense, with generous acidity, tannins and ripeness: All of those factors find a balance at the same level of intensity. With air, mineral notes emerge as the tannins gain greater smoothness. Give this at least five years in bottle to fully mature."
"(90% tempranillo and 10% cabernet sauvignon; aged for two years in new French oak): Inky ruby. A complex, highly aromatic bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cola, mocha and incense, along with subtle notes of vanilla and licorice. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors accented by candied violet and allspice nuances. A zesty mineral element adds lift and cut to the strikingly long, sappy finish, which shows just a whisper of tannins."
"The nose of the 2011 Cuesta de Las Liebres reveals the heat of the vintage, it has a dusty sensation over a core of dry hay and straw, very ripe plums and dark cherries. There are still plenty of oak-related aromas that would need some more bottle aging. The palate is full-bodied, ripe, lush, round and exuberant, with plenty of tannins that stick to your tongue leaving a drying sensation. The palate also points at the need of some more time in bottle. 8,300 bottles produced. - Luis Gutierrez"
"Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents show excellent purity and lift, with a hint of white pepper and building spiciness. Supple and open-knit, offering intense raspberry, vanilla and lavender pastille flavors that put on weight with air. Clean, bright and seamless on the impressively persistent finish, with the red fruit and floral notes echoing strongly. - Josh Raynolds"
"The vineyard-designate 2014 Cuesta de Las Liebres shows a lot more oak than the regular red blend from 2015. It's a wine that is not produced every year, and in 2014, it achieved 15% alcohol and moderate acidity. It's very concentrated, dark and powerful in a generous and voluptuous style with plenty of oak. For fans of the style, as it is nicely crafted but a little warm for my taste. 7,000 bottles and some magnums were filled in May 2017. - Luis Gutierrez"