Wine: Imperial 1980 Gran 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: 13% vol.
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: 13% vol.
Winemaking:
The wine remains in tanks for fermentation and stabilization before being racked for aging. It matures for 36 months in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French). Depending on the vintage, it rests for 36 to 60 months in the winery’s underground bottle racks. Re-corked every 20 years. Marketed at the end of the 1980s.
The wine remains in tanks for fermentation and stabilization before being racked for aging. It matures for 36 months in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French). Depending on the vintage, it rests for 36 to 60 months in the winery’s underground bottle racks. Re-corked every 20 years. Marketed at the end of the 1980s.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Reddish-ruby color with medium-high depth, although slightly less
extracted than the 1981 vintage. Absolutely sediment-free and extremely
clean. Vivid coppery reflections, luminous. Broad, tile-colored rim, well-defined against the meniscus. Marked sense of
thickness with abundant tearing.
Nose:
Excellent initial intensity; open and settled. It features an
appetizing off-dry hint of cherries and molasses, blending with cocoa
butter, floral touches, and a background of fine confectionery and
fruits in syrup. It is so broad and confident that it allows itself to
traverse a more "classic" and recognizable path (leather, waxes, spices,
smoke) without losing its essence. Overwhelming and radiant; one of the
most personal CVNE wines ever tasted.
Palate:
Juicy and vibrant, full of life and freshness. Measured in almost every
aspect but with a youthful profile. Details of elegant aging and exotic
woods emerge, infused with a burst of juicy fruit without any
harshness. It fills the mouth, saturating it with freshness—succulent
and savory. It possesses a balsamic touch that refreshes further,
extending into a smoky (chimenea) aftertaste.
Commentary:
Without a doubt, the best Imperial of the 1980s. While it is one of the less recognizable and more stylistically distant vintages for this brand, it is by no means of inferior quality. A luminous Gran Reserva, radiating health, light, and youth—smooth, firm, and remarkably vibrant.
Without a doubt, the best Imperial of the 1980s. While it is one of the less recognizable and more stylistically distant vintages for this brand, it is by no means of inferior quality. A luminous Gran Reserva, radiating health, light, and youth—smooth, firm, and remarkably vibrant.
Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Average: 95
Tasting Group Average: 95
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