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Rioja
Imperial Gran Reserva
Bottle 75cl - 2018
Imperial Gran Reserva 2018 is made only in exceptional vintages with grapes selected from small vineyards of Rioja Alta in Villalba and Torremontalbo, located between 550 and 650 m altitude. The grapes are harvested by hand with double selection and fermentation is carried out in small wooden vats. After malolactic fermentation, the wine ages 24 months in French and American oak barrels and is refined in bottle.
The 2018 vintage gave a cherry-cherry colored wine, with aromas of black fruit, licorice, roasted coffee and chocolate, and an elegant, balanced, fresh and friendly tannin mouthfeel, with a long finish and balsamic notes.
WineSpectator
94 Puntos
James Suckling
96 Puntos
TimAtkin
95 Puntos
RP's Wine Advocate
95+ Puntos
Peñín Guide
93 Puntos
Production Zone
Rioja
Type of wine
Red
Winery
Imperial
Aging
Gran Reserva
Format
75cl
Grape variety used
Tempranillo: 85% | Graciano: 10% | Mazuelo: 5%
Alcohol content
13,5%
Characteristics of the vineyard
Our best vineyards located in Rioja Alta are destined for the production of Imperial Gran Reserva .
In 2018 we selected the small Remedio and Encinas estates, located in Villalba between 550 and 650 m altitude very close to the Sierra de Toloño and with a climate of Atlantic and continental influence. These are farms of 12 hectares within the 42 hectares owned by CVNE in this town. The Barbarroja and Antoñana estates, with an age of 40 years and small production located in Torremontalbo were also chosen in this 2018 vintage. Rainfed vineyards, small surface area, goblet-trained, clay soils with areas of boulders, exposed to the South and poor in organic matter, gentle slopes and moderate continental climate.
Winemaking characteristics
The selected vineyards are harvested by hand on pallets and a double selection in the field and in the winery. The whole bunches are kept cold to improve fruit extraction and color stability.
The crushed grapes go by gravity to small wooden vats where we cold macerate for a few hours before starting the alcoholic fermentation with our own yeasts at a controlled temperature between 28 and 29ºC.
During fermentation, punchdowns and delestages are carried out as well as tastings to determine the moment of devatting. After malolactic fermentation in concrete, the wine is aged for two years in new French and American oak barrels. The barrels are racked every 8 months and we finish the process with aging in bottle in our centenary cellars until its release to the market.
Harvest data
The 2018 vintage takes us back to the climatology of years ago with a winter of heavy frosts, snow and abundant rainfall. The spring was also cold and rainy, and then came the summer, warm but without excessive temperatures, which allowed good ripening.
These weather conditions, generalized in Rioja Alta, were also particularly good in our vineyards destined for Imperial, allowing the production of wines with a slightly lower alcohol content than usual, slightly more acidity and, in short, wines with a lot of fruit and freshness. The harvest has a long vegetative cycle of 180 days, which favors the production of great wines.
The harvest at Imperial began on October 8 and ended on October 26 with very good expectations.
Tasting notes
Bigarreau cherry color with good depth.
Complex aromatic intensity with hints of blackberries, currants, strawberries and licorice. All accompanied by aromas from the barrel aging such as roasted coffee, chocolate, clove, toffee, cigar leaf..
The palate has a smooth entry and a step marked by a gentle tannin that gives it elegance.
The retronasal is long, fruity and with certain balsamic notes. It is a round and balanced wine that can be served with red meat, game, oily fish, cured cheeses..
Recommended serving temperature 18ºC.
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