With a century of life, Imperial Reserva 2019 is one of the most outstanding assets of domestic wine.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
10% Graciano, 85% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo
Type of barrel
Barrels bordelesas of French and American oak
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
24 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
With a century of experience, Imperial Reserva 2019 is one of the great treasures of Spanish wine, a wine whose vinification guidelines demonstrate that many things are changing in the world of long-aged national wines and that CVNE is not immune to these changes. A surprising example of how this centenary winery advocates the trend of producing extremely subtle wines, responding to modern production and philosophy parameters and aligning with current market tastes, but without losing an ounce of the essence that has made it legendary.
Few brands in the Spanish wine market have a presentation and impact like that enjoyed by this symbol of the Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE), a firm that, for more than a century, has been expanding its magnificent viticultural heritage and has been growing, not only in the Barrio de la Estación, but with avant-garde projects at different times in its history, such as the creation of Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino or Bodegas Viña Real.
After a double selection process, in the field and in the winery, and its preservation in cold storage for 24 hours, the grapes that give rise to Imperial Reserva 2019, from vineyards over 40 years old, are gravity-transferred to French oak vats, where they undergo alcoholic fermentation. A long aging process of two years in French and American oak barrels, and a final rounding of the wine in the bottle for three more years, shape an excellent red wine from the D.O.Ca. Rioja that is only produced in exceptional vintages.
Tasting notes
In the visual phase, the Imperial Reserva red wine presents a beautiful cherry red color with a rim of the same shade, of high layer.
On the nose, it is very elegant and complex, with a good blend of the fruity aromas typical of the mix of varieties and the notes from its aging in French and American oak.
The palate confirms the elegance of the nose, resulting in a smooth and velvety texture, with a magnificent structure, well-balanced acidity, and a silky yet marked tannin. Persistent and long finish. A wine that promises excellent evolution over the coming years.
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.