Some time back, we reviewed CARE’s maceración carbónica — a wine that impressed us with its energy, bright fruit, and drinkability.

Bodegas CARE has since earned a special place in our cellar and our respect: across their range, there’s a consistent sense of identity, honest winemaking, and a willingness to let the land speak. Their labels, designed by artist Enrique Torrijos, deserve a word of praise too — bold, modern, a little primitive, instantly recognisable, and never pretentious.

Bodegas CARE sits in the D.O.P. Cariñena, Aragón, one of Europe’s oldest wine regions. The vineyards stretch between 600–800 metres above sea level on poor, stony soils that force the vines to dig deep, reduce vigour, and concentrate flavour. The climate is continental-Mediterranean: scorching summers, cold winters, scant rainfall (often below 250 mm a year), and the fierce, dry Cierzo wind that sweeps across the plateau, cooling the vines and keeping disease at bay.

This tough but generous land gives wines of Mediterranean ripeness balanced by altitude freshness. Garnacha is the star here, supported by Syrah, Tempranillo, and others. Since its founding in 2000, CARE has combined tradition and modern technique, offering single-variety bottlings, sobre lías styles, crianza and oak-aged wines, always with Garnacha as the backbone.

The sobre lías method — literally on the lees — comes from the French sur lie tradition of Muscadet and Burgundy. After fermentation, the wine stays in contact with the lees (spent yeast cells) instead of being immediately racked off. As the lees break down (autolysis), they release compounds that soften the tannins and add roundness to the palate; preserve fruit aromas and bring freshness;  and add complexity and depth, integrating oak, fruit, and texture into a harmonious whole. In CARE Tinto Sobre Lías, this technique gives weight and polish without masking the fruit or resorting to heavy oak.

A blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Syrah, fermented with a short pre-maceration, aged on its lees, and then two months in French, oak barrels. In the glass it is deep, black cherry with violet edges, bright and limpid, suggesting concentration and youthful energy. The nose is expressive and layered — ripe cherries, blackberries, plums — then hints of black pepper, wild herbs, and subtle toast from its brief oak aging. A faint floral lift (violet, dried rose) adds elegance.

The palate is fruit-forward but balanced, with juicy red fruit at the core, supported by supple tannins and fresh acidity. The sobre lías aging rounds off the edges, giving a silky texture and integrating the spice, fruit, and oak. The finish is long, savoury, with a touch of minerality that invites another sip.

Serve at 14–15 °C on its own or with Spanish tapas, roasted peppers, herb-marinated pork, or even mildly spiced dishes — the wine’s fruit intensity and freshness stand up beautifully to bold flavours.

At 6–8 EUR, Care Tinto Sobre Lías delivers serious character, modern winemaking, and a sense of place at a remarkable value for money.

90–92 Bruja points; 6-8 EUR. We got from https://beals.es/ in Valencia

(Feature: Wine Bodegas CARE: Bodegas Añadas)

Keywords: Wine Review, Bodegas CARE: Bodegas Añadas, Tinto