Imperial 1955 Gran Reserva

Wine: Imperial 1955 Gran Reserva

Winery: Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano, 5% Viura
ABV: 13%
Winemaking

The wine spent between 12 and 24 months in large, seasoned oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before wood aging. It was then matured for 10 years in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French oak). Depending on the vintage, it remained in the bottle for 36 to 60 months in the winery’s underground cellars before its commercial release in the early 1970s. 

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby with medium-high depth (capa); remarkably stable, appearing 30 years younger than its actual age. Pristine and bright, showing luminous orange and copper highlights with a clear, broad rim.

 

Nose: An explosion of vitality, finesse, and extreme elegance. It presents itself at a peak of plenitude, brimming with red fruit aromas and an aromatically striking floral backdrop (petals, withered flowers, gunpowder, flint). Soft balsamic and spicy notes are layered over an ultra-fine patina of exotic woods, earthy tones, Russian leather, and aromatic coffee, along with high-quality toasted nuances that are nearly imperceptible. It conveys a sense of immense roundness and absolute harmony. It improves continuously with aeration, becoming deeper and more perfumed as it sheds the weight of its aging to reveal a varietal profile of great purity.

 

Palate: It fills every corner of the mouth. Expansive, slightly spicy, and incredibly savory, it is endowed with a vibrant acidity and a "whalebone" structural backbone. All of this is delivered in a velvet glove—mature tannins, order, and freshness, with a highly complex hint of sweetness. Another masterpiece from the "liquid goldsmithing" workshop of CVNE. This is a definitive Imperial that truly honors its name; historically considered the winery's finest and most elegant offering. The 1955 vintage continues to show an almost miraculous youth, characterized by exaggerated vitality and subtlety.

 

Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Score: 96