Winemaker Notes
Grown on Pago de Carraovejas's most coveted plot of just 9 acres at 3,000 feet above sea-level and unique for its steep slope, limestone soil and vertically trained vines, Cuesta de las Liebres is a radical wine produced only in exceptional vintages.
Fermented with indigenous yeast in large Foudre then aged 24 months in new French oak and 24 months in the bottle, it is full of nuanced black fruit sensations, mineral notes and sweet spice from prolonged ageing.
A radical wine at its core. Powerful, firm, round and full of nuanced dark, ripe fruit flavors in perfect balance with sweet spice, chocolate and mineral notes.
100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Deep-ruby to the eye, this wine has aromas of brambly wild berries, dark chocolate and fennel. It offers a nice sense of spiciness, with flavors of raspberry, black cherry, clove, anise and orange zest. Durable tannins are kept in check by vibrant acidity. Drink through 2042.
Cellar Selection -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The single-vineyard 2018 Cuesta de Las Liebres comes from a plot that was planted in 1992 behind the winery at some 850 meters in altitude, where the soils have more limestone and the vines are head pruned. This has been made with 100% Tempranillo since 2014 (even though they have other varieties there), and they abandoned the 200% new oak regime for the élevage and now do 24 months in new barrels with lower toast, racked after 12 months. It has 15% alcohol and comes through as powerful and ripe. It's full-bodied and has fine tannins and less oaky notes than in the past, with balance and freshness combined with the power and concentration. This is a powerful and classical wine that is not produced every year and is designed for the long haul.
-
James Suckling
Aromas of ripe, cocoa-dusted blue fruit, sweet spices and wet stones. Medium-to full- bodied, dense and structured with chewy tannins and a deep core of ripe dark fruit on the palate. Lingering, flavorful finish with hints of chocolate and crushed stones.
-
Wine Spectator
An elegant red, supple and creamy, with pretty violet and anise hyssop notes wafting through finely meshed flavors of black cherry coulis, dried thyme and subtle sweet smoke. The spiced finish is firmed by fine tannins.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.