Only produced in years of exceptional harvests, Imperial perfectly captures the essence of Rioja Alta’s soil. The Gran Reserva is sourced from their best vineyards at about 600m high and aged for two years in a mix of French and American oak. Aromas of Black and red fruit alongside notes of forest floor, cloves, roasted coffee, cigar leaf, chocolate, caramel and balsamic notes. Deep and elegant on the palate with warm tannins well balanced with the acidity. Long and complex.
Producer description:
Dating back to 1879, CVNE is a family run company that has helped put Rioja on the map. Imperial, their flagship cuvee, was rated world’s number one wine in 2013 by the American magazine Wine Spectator. They are also known for making Monopole, Spain’s oldest white wine; Corona 1939, Viña Real 1947 and single vineyard Contino.
Style:
Still Red
Vintage:
2016
Dryness:
Dry
ABV:
14
Size:
75cl
Delivery:
4 weeks
Available:
3
Couldn't load pickup availability
Critic Scores
Robert Parker | 95
The classical 2016 Imperial Gran Reserva was produced with a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from grapes that were picked between October 10 and 25 with good ripeness, delivering a wine with 14.5% alcohol after fermenting in small oak vats followed by malolactic in concrete and two years in barrel and three in bottle. I was quite surprised, because the wine was quite closed and needed energetic swirling and time in the glass to reveal its true colors. It has more stuffing and finesse than the reserva. 2016 was a very good vintage, with freshness and balance to develop nicely in bottle. The tannins are very fine, and the wine is tasty and long. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2019.
James Suckling | 98
Polished and structured with firm, very fine tannins. Lots going on here, with layers of black fruit, dried spices, graphite, coconut and cracked pepper. Full-bodied and so intense. Keeps going. Long. The tannins are so fine and so numerous. One of the greatest modern gran reservas. 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano and 5% mazuelo. Try in 2025
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
