2016 | CVNE | Imperial Gran Reserva

Deep red-violet in the glass, this wine has a bouquet of cherry, black currant and juniper. Durable tannins coat the palate, bearing flavors of cassis, dark plums, dark chocolate and violet that lead into the spice-filled finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: 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: 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.

Producer Information

Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España (or CVNE, or Cune) is a historic wine producer in the Rioja region of Spain. It has gained international acclaim for numerous wines within its large portfolio, which encompasses everything from easy-drinking table wines to top cuvées that are capable of long cellaring. One particular highlight was the 2004 Imperial Gran Reserva. This was named the top wine in the 2013 edition of Wine Spectator's Top 100. The CVNE range also includes Crianza and Reserva red wines, Blanco and Blanco Reserva, a Rosado and a white Rioja Semidulce (semi-sweet). From beyond Rioja there is also a white from the nearby Rueda region and a Ribera del Duero red. The main CVNE winery was founded near Haro railway station in 1879, and has been owned by the same family since. The complex has 22 buildings including the original 1879 premises and a separate plant designed by the Eiffel studio and completed in 1909. CVNE owns 545 hectares (1350 acres) of vineyards, but this only represents 50 percent of production. Contract growers supply the other half.

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