With a century of history, Imperial is one of the most outstanding assets of Spanish wine. As evidence, its 2004 vintage was awarded the title of “Best Wine in the World” by the American magazine 'Wine Spectator'. Imperial Gran Reserva 2017 is a traditional blend of tempranillo (predominant), graciano, and mazuelo, with grapes sourced from the winery's best vineyards in Rioja Alta. A great red wine that only comes to light in exceptional vintages.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
10% Graciano, 85% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo
Type of barrel
70% French oak, 30% American oak
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
24 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Bottling
07/2020
Total acidity (g/l)
5.92
Volatile acidity (g/l)
0.71
pH
3.6
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14
General Information
Imperial Gran Reserva 2017 is a blend of 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano, and 5% mazuelo, sourced from the best vineyards owned by CVNE in Rioja Alta. These are old bush vines hand-harvested into 20 kg boxes. Specifically, the grapes come from the small plots of Remedio and Encinas, located in Villalba at an altitude of 550 to 650 meters, very close to the Sierra de Toloño, with a climate influenced by both Atlantic and continental factors. They also come from the Barbarroja and Antoñana plots, which are 40 years old with small production, located in Torremontalbo.
The grapes underwent a double selection process, both in the field and in the winery. After a selection process on the sorting table, the grapes were gravity-fed into small wooden vats, where they underwent cold maceration for a few hours before starting alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts at a temperature of 28-29 ºC. Subsequently, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks and then aged for 24 months in French and American oak barrels, both new and one-use. The process was completed with a bottle aging of at least 36 months in the winery's centenary cellars.
CVNE's expertise in long aging earned it one of the highest recognitions a few years ago: its Imperial Gran Reserva 2004 was named “Best Wine in the World 2013” by the prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator. It was the first time a Spanish wine achieved this recognition.
The acronym CVNE stands for the name of one of Spain's most prominent wineries on the international scene. Founded in 1879, CVNE still retains its original location in the legendary Barrio de la Estación in Haro, at the heart of Rioja Alta. The great prestige that this universal Rioja winery continues to enjoy, considered a neo-classic in Spanish winemaking, dates back a long way, as it was one of the first national wineries to bottle wine.
Throughout its extensive history, CVNE has expanded its vineyards and developed other projects within the D.O.Ca. Rioja, such as
Creators' opinion
Capa intensa de color granate brillante.En nariz descubrimos el regaliz muy propio de la variedad mayoritaria, los frutos del bosque y los aromas a clavo, café tostado, hoja de puro, chocolate, caramelo y ciertas notas balsámicas, que naturalmente procede de la estancia en barrica. Todo en perfecto equilibrio.La entrada en boca es fina y elegante, con un paso profundo y graso que nos envuelve el paladar. El tanino amable y el final con un poquito de acidez nos proporciona una retronasal larga y compleja.
The winery
The Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España is one of the great symbols of the Estación de Haro neighborhood, the great capital of Rioja wine. Founded in 1879 by the brothers Raimundo and Eusebio Real de Asúa, CVNE (as it is known worldwide) can proudly claim to have remained at the top throughout its history. Ten years after its creation, the winery inaugurated an impressive barrel hall designed by the studio of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. By 1900, it was already producing nearly 80,000 bottles, an unthinkable feat for the time. The 20th century established CVNE as an institution of Spanish wine.
Over 140 years, it has successfully combined tradition and innovation to create wines that today are the standard-bearers of Rioja reds and have garnered international critical acclaim. Its Imperial Gran Reserva 2004 made history when it was chosen as Wine of the Year 2013 by the prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator, marking the first time a Spanish wine received this recognition.
Since its foundation, CVNE has expanded its heritage and grown with avant-garde projects at different times in its history, such as the creation of Viñedos del Contino or Viña Real.