Wine: Imperial 1982 Gran Reserva
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
ABV: 13%
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
ABV: 13%
Winemaking:
Sourced from various vineyards across Rioja Alta. The wine spent up to 12 months in large-capacity vats for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It was then matured for 36 months in semi-neutral 225-liter barrels (70% American oak, 30% French oak), with periodic manual rackings. Depending on the vintage, it undergoes 36 to 60 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars before release. This cuvée is recorked every 20–25 years to ensure longevity.
Sourced from various vineyards across Rioja Alta. The wine spent up to 12 months in large-capacity vats for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It was then matured for 36 months in semi-neutral 225-liter barrels (70% American oak, 30% French oak), with periodic manual rackings. Depending on the vintage, it undergoes 36 to 60 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars before release. This cuvée is recorked every 20–25 years to ensure longevity.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Dark ruby-red with medium-high depth; well-extracted. Muted brilliance
with faint copper reflections and a slight trace of turbidity. A
significant amount of scale-like sediment is present at the base. Broad,
tawny (atejado) rim, clearly defined against the meniscus.
Nose:
Powerful and expansive, showing immediate presence without the need for
extensive aeration. The aromatic core is built on fine wood, marquetry,
tung oil, and varnish, accompanied by toasted, smoky, and balsamic
notes. Intriguing hints of bell pepper emerge in the
background—reminiscent of Cabernet—evoking the historic "urgency" wines
produced by CVNE in the early post-war 1940s. Deep and complex, it
evolves with notes of game (faisandage), ferruginous hints (blood), and a marked toastiness that melts into wild aromatic herbs and Mediterranean scrubland.
Palate:
Vibrant, broad, and tart. Full of flavor and energy, it maintains a
constant sense of firmness thanks to its excellent structure and
high-quality, mature tannins. Elegant and substantial, it gains stature
with every glass, becoming increasingly mature and fruit-driven.
Commentary:
An Imperial that possesses an abundance of everything, very much in the spirit of the 1982 Rioja vintage. While it is currently in an optimal drinking window, there is a strong suspicion that further cellaring could tame its power even more, leading to even greater heights.
An Imperial that possesses an abundance of everything, very much in the spirit of the 1982 Rioja vintage. While it is currently in an optimal drinking window, there is a strong suspicion that further cellaring could tame its power even more, leading to even greater heights.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 94
Price: €90
Tasting Group Average: 94
Price: €90
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