Imperial 1970 Gran Reserva

Wine: Imperial 1970 Gran Reserva
Winery: Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.

Winemaking

The wine remained for 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before wood aging. It matured for 36 months in semi-new 225-liter oak barrels (70% American and 30% French). Bottled in March 1975. 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 1970s. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-ruby color with medium depth; clear, clean, and brilliant. Featuring vivid pomegranate and orange reflections. The rim is tawny/brick-colored and very wide, showing a marked contrast against the meniscus.

 

Nose: High intensity and overflowing depth. There is an immense amount of reduced red fruit, wilted flowers, petals, hibiscus infusion, sun-dried tomato, and a backdrop where the tenderest figs imaginable reign. It possesses a spicy touch (clove, black cardamom) and a liqueur-like quality that melds with a foundation of fine wood, creamy nuances, biscotti, and bitter orange marmalade. Excessive power and great classicism emerge as it breathes. Increasingly, notes of elegant reduction, blonde tobacco, leather, and seed oils appear.

 

Palate: Fresh and light on the palate; earthy and acidulous, gifted with firm yet velvety tannins. It is linear, energetic, vivid, and citric, with a high-quality bitter finish. It possesses the smoothness and tension of a fabulous wine that is hard to believe. An endless finish that elevates with every sip. This is a magical bottle.

 

Commentary

The 1970 Imperial Gran Reserva is a masterpiece of balance and longevity. This specific unit has evolved even better than the magnum format tasted previously, showcasing a vibrant structural integrity and a profound aromatic complexity. It represents the pinnacle of the traditional Haro style, where acidity and tertiary elegance converge in a state of absolute grace. A monumental Rioja.

 

Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Average: 96