CVNE Imperial Reserva Rioja 2020 750ml

Imperial Reserva 2020 is one of CVNE's classic Rioja wines, produced under the historic Imperial winery in Haro, Rioja Alta. Imperial is made only from selected vintages and is intended to express the character of CVNE's vineyards and the distinctive Imperial house style, described by the producer as fine, precise and powerful.

The grapes come from CVNE's own vineyards in Villalba, Briones and Torremontalvo, with vines more than 40 years old. The vineyards are predominantly planted with Tempranillo, with interplanted Garnacha and Graciano, and feature low-yielding, head-trained vines on calcareous clay soils.

For the 2020 vintage, the grapes were hand-harvested and carefully selected before fermentation in oak vats. The wine underwent approximately 20 days of maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation in concrete and wood. It was then aged for 24 months in a combination of American and French oak, with the 2020 technical sheet specifying approximately 30% American oak and 70% French oak. The wine subsequently spent a minimum of 12 months in bottle before release.

The 2020 vintage displays the classic Imperial combination of ripe fruit, integrated oak and balsamic complexity, with a full, fleshy palate supported by structure and silky tannins.

Tasting Notes

Colour:
Deep cherry-red with high colour intensity.

Nose:
Intense and complex, showing ripe fruit alongside toasted, balsamic and well-integrated oak notes.

Palate:
Full-bodied and fleshy, with excellent structure and depth. Silky and velvety in texture, with ripe fruit balanced by oak and freshness.

Finish:
Long and persistent, with lingering fruit, subtle toast, balsamic nuances and elegant tannins.