"(85% tempranillo, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot; aged for a year in French and American oak, most of it new): Bright ruby. A complex, perfumed nose evokes fresh raspberry, dried flowers, pungent herbs and Asian spices, with an intense mineral quality. Sweet and silky in texture, with juicy flavors of red berry preserves, anise and smoky minerals. Very long and perfumed on the finish, with fine-grained tannins adding grip.- JR"
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September 2013), 91 pts
Go To Pago de Carraovejas Crianza
"(95% tempranillo and 5% cabernet sauvignon; aged in a combination of French and American oak): Bright purple. Highly perfumed aromas of blackberry, lavender, woodsmoke and mocha, with a spicy nuance adding lift. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering juicy dark berry and floral pastille flavors that pick up energy with aeration. Closes broad, sweet and very long, with lingering smokiness and velvety, harmonious tannins."
"The 2011 Crianza is a blend of Tempranillo (93%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Merlot (2%) aged for one year in barrique. This is their flagship wine, a sure bet, showing great Ribera typicity with notes of small berries, restrained spices, smoke and a lactic touch, all in very good harmony. The palate is medium-bodied with polished, silky tannins, good acidity, and balance, with pungent flavors lifted by the alcohol (15% in a warm vintage like 2011) leading to a long finish. This is one of the most consistent crianzas from Ribera del Duero. An impressive 625,000 bottles and 18,000 magnums were produced from the 2011 vintage. Drink now-2019. - Luis Gutierrez"
"The 2012 Crianza is a blend of Tempranillo (91%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%) and Merlot (3%), fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and matured for one year in French and American oak barrels. This feels like a very fine and fresh Crianza from Carraovejas, with a lot of aromas of licorice and bright red cherries, plus some flowers coming through with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and very balanced with fine, sleek tannins and a silky texture. Great crianza! 650,000 bottles of this wine were produced. - Luis Gutierrez"
"(aged in new and used French and American oak barrels for a year) Opaque ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of cherry and blueberry are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance and a suave floral element. Pliant dark berry and cherry cola flavors show a hint of refreshing bitterness, and a vanilla note gains intensity as the wine opens up. Closes gently tannic and long, leaving behind notes of spicecake and dark fruit preserves. - Josh Raynolds"
"Saucy, gritty aromas of molasses, savory plum and road tar are more dark and brooding than fruity. This blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet and Merlot is tight and collected on the palate, with gritty, oaky flavors of blackberry and dark plum. A peppery, spicy finish gets much of its taste from the barrel. Drink through 2023."