Imperial 1975 Reserva

Wine: Imperial 1975 Reserva
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
ABV: 12.5% vol. 

Winemaking

The wine remained for 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before wood aging. It matured for approximately 36 months in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak, 30% French), with several manual rackings performed each year. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging followed in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release in the mid-1980s. Recorked every 20 years. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby color with medium body; limpid, clear, and luminous. It displays reddish and orange reflections, showing an effulgent quality. Numerous fine, persistent tears suggest a sense of density. The rim is wide and coppery.

 

Nose: "Imperial" to the core. Subtle, fragrant, ethereal, and very delicate. It exudes authenticity and elegance like few wines, performing at a high level. To the notes of smoke, toast, and fine oak, an extraordinary mineral background is added (graphite, flint). Ripe red and black fruits emerge, accompanied by hints of aromatic herbs—star anise, sage, and laurel. It possesses a curious "mountainous" character, deep and complex, which we have previously encountered in other 1975 vintages.

 

Palate: It has it all. Enveloping, full, and agile; incredibly vivid and gifted with a stony structure and a concentration that is hard to believe. It is as fresh as it is silky and refined, with nothing to envy from the Gran Reserva of the same vintage. A monumental red, boasting immense power and balance; as it approaches 40 years of age, it remains entirely whole, almost youthful. A very fine wine.

 

Commentary

The 1975 Imperial Reserva is a testament to the consistency of CVNE during this decade. It captures the essence of a "mountain wine" with its mineral tension and herbal complexity, showing a structural integrity that bridges the gap between the house's Reserva and Gran Reserva tiers. Its freshness and "stony" grip suggest that it still possesses a remarkable life ahead, standing as a pinnacle of balance for its age.

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Average: 93