Cuesta de las Liebres, in its 2021 vintage, has been awarded a score of 100 points by renowned critic Jeb Dunnuck.
This recognition places Cuesta de las Liebres among the greats on the international scene, reaffirming the excellence of the work carried out in the vineyard and in the winery. Jeb Dunnuck, one of the most influential voices in the world of wine, highlighted the 2021 vintage as an “impeccable, polished, and magnificent” wine with a lifespan of 18 years.
The Cuesta de las Liebres vineyard is located on a slope with a gradient of over 30% and rich biodiversity. It covers 3.19 hectares of Tinto Fino planted in 1994. The vines are grown in a vertical goblet style, sheltered by the pine forest that protects them from the upper part of the plot. The structure and enormous complexity of this wine reflect Pago de Carraovejas’ firm commitment to nature, the terroir, and the history of the environment. It is the expression of a precise and pure vineyard.
To make this wine, the grapes were harvested by hand after exhaustive monitoring during their ripening cycle and an initial selection in the vineyard. The must was moved by gravity and the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations were carried out in small wooden vats. The wine remained for 24 months in new 225-liter extra-fine grain French oak barrels. For greater protection, the wine contains sulfites. The 2021 vintage was bottled in the spring of 2024.
This 100 is not just a number for Alma Carraovejas; it is the recognition of a philosophy based on respect for the land, the pursuit of the highest quality, and the authentic expression of our environment.
Visit to Alma Carraovejas projects in Ribera del Duero
Jub Dunnuck editor and critic Virginie Boone visited Spain in late May and early June, and we were able to accompany her on a tour of the Pago de Carraovejas estate, where we shared with her our philosophy and values both in the vineyard and in the winemaking process. During her stay, she had the opportunity to taste the wines that will soon be released on the market, reaffirming with her scores the work we have been doing both in the vineyard and in the winery.
El Anejón 2021 scored 98 points, and she highlighted in her tasting notes: “This could be the producer’s best wine of the vintage, which is saying a lot, as they are all of exceptional quality. It will reach its peak in 5-7 years and remain so for another 20.”
Pago de Carraovejas 2023 scored 95 points. “It is still a young wine, but it is already full of enormous sophistication, delicacy, and seamless elegance. Store it for 3-5 years and enjoy it for another 25.”
During his visit to Ribera del Duero, he also had the opportunity to learn about our other project in Ribera del Duero: Milsetentayseis and the varietal richness found in the small plots of old vines in Fuentenebro.
Of our rosé La Peña 2022, which he awarded 95 points, he highlights that “it has the necessary structure to age for 10 to 12 years.”
Discovering Aiurri
After exploring the projects in Ribera del Duero, the trip continued to Rioja Alavesa, where we visited the Alma project in Leza: Aiurri.
It was a morning in which we were able to showcase the character and authenticity of a unique place with small plots of old vines at different altitudes, orientations, and soil structures, located at the foot of the Sierra de Toloño.
After touring the facilities, we tasted the vintage that will be released in the coming months, showcasing the great potential of the wines from this small municipality in Rioja Alavesa, which are expected to go on sale next spring.
Aiurri 2023 scored 95-96 points from the American critic, who highlighted its “tension, structure, and intensity.” Salas 2023, a single vineyard wine that is only released in exceptional vintages, scored 94-95 points, highlighting its brilliance: “It is floral and earthy, and should continue to develop to reach greater greatness.” Finally, Landua 2023 scored 93-94 points, praised for its “characteristic balsamic notes with a touch of dried herbs and graphite that give it additional complexity.”
Estos resultados son el reflejo del compromiso firme de nuestros equipos con una viticultura respetuosa y auténtica, que expresa con honestidad el carácter del origen. Cada viñedo es trabajado con precisión, y cada paso del proceso se afronta con el máximo nivel de exigencia, siempre con la excelencia como objetivo final.
