2019 Imperial Gran Reserva
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Tasting notes
This is another benchmark expression of Imperial Gran Reserva from CVNE. Aged in a combination of French and American oak, it's beautifully classic Riona. The nose is packed with ripe juicy fruit, complemented by eucalypt, almost mint-like herbal tones, vanilla spice, cedar smoke and floral lift. The oak is dominant at this youthful stage but will integrate with time in bottle. The palate is laden with fruit, yet gorgeous freshness too, the bright acidity cutting through its concentration effortlessly, and countering the chewy grip of tannin. The finish is long and mouthwatering, scented with smoke and spice. We have seen time and again how effortlessly these wines age, and it will be one to savour over the next 20 years and beyond. Fantastic value, and a staple for the cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous
More reviews and scores
85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha. Aged for 24 months. Winemaker Maria Larrea. Vegan. Available in 606 stores. Labelled bottle number 661,5511! Shows just how big this brand actually is … … but the quality is, as nearly always, impeccable. Imperial Rioja 2019 combines ripeness of fruit, weighty dark-red fruits on the palate, lifted floral notes and warming yet subtle oak, with fine tannins and spot-on acidity. Very smooth on the palate. (AWH)
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, sourced from CVNE’s finest vineyards in Rioja Alta, mainly around the village of Villalba. The vineyards are dry-farmed. Grapes are hand-harvested into small boxes and double-sorted at the winery. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats, preceded by a short cold maceration, with alcoholic fermentation carried out through a combination of punchdowns and racking. The wine is then aged for 24 months in new oak barrels, 80% French oak and 20% American oak, with rackings every eight months. Tasted blind. A clearly evolved and very classic style, with notes of mocha, tobacco, clove and vanilla. The nose shows a beautifully developed aromatic complexity. On the palate, the wine remains well structured, with clear potential for further ageing. Lively, acidic cherry notes bring freshness through the mid palate. A wine of very good quality, combining maturity with balance and poise. (FC)
The 2019 Gran Reserva Imperial is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Following malolactic fermentation in concrete vats, it aged for two years in 225-liter French (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels—both new and second use. It underwent rackings every eight months, before extended aging in century-old cellars. This opens with ripe black fruit and plum aromas, framed by well-integrated oak and subtle herbal notes. It displays a delicate style in the mouth, with fine, chalky tannins and a hint of dried herbs on the finish. The 2019 is a refined, flavorful red in a thoroughly classic Rioja tone.
About the producer
CVNE, or Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company), is one of Rioja’s leading names. With its various brands – Cune, Viña Real, Contino and Imperial – CVNE produces both large volumes and high quality, with its Imperial Gran Reserva one of the region’s finest wines.