Imperial 1951 Gran Reserva

Wine: Imperial 1951 Gran Reserva

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

Winemaking

The wine remained for 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before wood aging. It matured for over 10 years in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak, 30% French). Bottled in 1964. Depending on the vintage, it rested between 36 and 60 months in the winery’s underground bottle racks before its commercial release in the late 1960s. Hand-recorked and resealed with wax in August 2011 within the winery’s cellars. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby color with medium-high depth; remarkably stable and opaque. It follows the extractive line characteristic of CVNE during this decade, including the Viña Real bottlings. Crystallin clean, without any trace of sediment, and brilliant. Featuring vivid, pomegranate reflections. The rim is small and orange, showing a marked contrast against the meniscus. It is surprising that these 1950s wines have evolved so little compared to those produced in the 60s and 70s.

 

Nose: High intensity with a pronounced mineral-earthy accent. Initially, there are hints of gunpowder, graphite (pencil lead), damp soil, and a curious iodized sensation filled with ferruginous nuances. Upon aeration, it shifts towards powerful notes of animal, stable, and cherries in liqueur, supported by an impressive balsamic background. It clears up like a storm breaking, gaining finesse as it opens step by step. Elegant spices emerge, joining high-quality oak and freshly roasted coffee. Fragrant and subtle, with an abundance of juicy red fruit that melds with wilted petals. Supremely elegant.

 

Palate: Shows almost total integrity. A strong acidity supports the entire structure, providing a pyramidal base for the wine to express itself. Vivid, acidulous, and well-ordered; it is more linear than broad, with a finish that lingers indefinitely. It has yet to reach its peak, suggesting one should wait a few more years before revisiting another bottle. Another Rioja myth.

 

Commentary

The 1951 Gran Reserva is a structural titan that defies the conventional logic of aging. This bottle, recorked in 2011, exhibits a staggering vitality and a mineral tension that places it among the absolute elite of historical Riojas. It is a "straight" wine—focused and precise—that showcases the incredible preservative capacity of the 1950s vintages at CVNE. A legendary red in a state of nearly perfect preservation.

 

Personal Score: 98
Tasting Group Average: 98