Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo
300cl * 14.0% ABV * Rioja, Spain
Imperial is one of the great names in Spanish winemaking, a true Rioja Classic, it was first produced in the 1920s. CVNE's best vineyards in Rioja Alta are set aside for the production of Imperial Gran Reserva and it is only made in vintages that the company classifies as excellent.
Bottles are aged for a minimum of 36 months, in this case two years in barrel and two years in bottle, in CVNE's hundred-year-old cellars before finally being released onto the market. A deep garnet with just a hint of bricking at the rim. Wild berries and liquorice merge with notes of toffee, tobacco and undergrowth from barrel ageing. Soft and elegant, with smooth velvety tannins and a hint of black pepper, this is a deliciously warm and inviting red ideal for lamb or hard cheeses.
The double magnum is equivalent to two magnums – except of course in Burgundy and Champagne where the 3-litre format is known as a Jeroboam. Sourced from 40-year-old vines owned by one of the largest and most highly regarded companies in Rioja. This wine is designed to last and improve over time and will do so for even longer in this format.
Drinking Window: Now - 2026
"A touch of dried tobacco leaf and mulled sloe berries and meatiness. Gorgeously sweet fruit on the palate. Quince and an earthiness and a very fine seam of vanilla with a wonderful just-tooled-saddle (not sweaty!) spice note on the finish. Gentle, the texture of chamois leather on the tongue. There is a remarkable freshness, and the mid-palate bursts into sweet sweet cherry just as you think it’s starting to segue into dry spices. Thrilling, almost haunting, with generous persistence. So balanced. Do not spit this wine." 17.5/20 points, Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com (Nov 2023)
"Deep crimson-colored, it gives up aromas of toast, spice box, espresso, blackberry, and plum. Medium to full-bodied, on the palate it displays a plush texture, ripe flavors, excellent volume and concentration, and a relatively forward personality." 92+ points, Jay Miller, Wine Advocate (June 2010)