CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva 2017
Type: Red
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo
Rating: 95 Robert Parker Points
Climate: Continental climate with Mediterranean influence and extreme temperatures
Terroir: The vines are bush trained, dry farmed and the plots are small. The soils are clay with areas of river pebbles, are low in organic matter and are situated on gentle south-facing slopes
Winemaking: Following rigorous ripening tests, the manual harvesting process begins in which the grapes are collected in 20 kg boxes. On arrival at the winery, the grapes are kept in a cold store for 24 hours to improve fruit extraction and stabilise the colour. Following a conveyor belt selection process, the grapes pass by gravity into French oak vats, where alcoholic fermentation takes place with our own yeasts at a controlled temperature of 28-29°C. The wine is then aged for a minimum of 24 months in new French and American oak barrels, with racking every 8 months. Finally, the bottles are aged for a minimum of 36 months in our hundred-year-old cellars before finally being released onto the market
Color: Intense cherry red
Nose: Interesting complexity, highlighting the liquorice, the fruits of the forest and the aromas of cloves, roasted coffee, cigar leaf, chocolate, caramel and certain balsamic notes
Palate: The palate is marked by a velvety tannin that gives it the elegance of this wine as well as having a very attractive aftertaste
About the Winery:
CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) is one of the most renowned and historic bodegas in all of Spain. Founded in 1879 by the Real de Asúa brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo, the company has been an integral part of the Rioja region’s ascendance in the world of fine wine. With their combination of traditional roots and innovative vision, CVNE has been one of Rioja’s most reliable sources of high-quality wine. The company is still run by descendants of the Real de Asúa brothers, now represented by the fifth generation with current CEO Victor Urrutia Ybarra.
Since its founding, CVNE’s goal has been to increase the scope of production while maintaining the level of quality on which its reputation was built. Forty years after the original bodega was created, CVNE expanded into the Alavesa region. Today, CVNE is comprised of three separate bodegas: Cune, Viña Real, and Contino. Each of the three estates produces a distinct style of wine from a distinct terroir, and each of their flagship bottlings occupies a well-deserved place in the pantheon of great Spanish wine
