Cvne Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2017 750ml

Name: Cvne Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2017 750ml
Brand: Cvne
SKU: 985464
Price: 83.89 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.5 (6 reviews)

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SKU 985464

$83.89/bottle

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JD 96pts

JS 95pts

WA 94pts

WS 94pts

VM 94pts

DC 94pts

See professional reviews

A small step up over the Vina Real Gran Reserva Especial, with slightly more breadth and richness (but maybe not the precision), the 2017 Imperial Gran Reserva is based on 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and the rest Mazuelo that spent two years in oak, with just under 5,000 cases produced. Its deep plum/purple hue is followed by a brilliant array of ripe black cherries, cassis, iron, candied violets, and vanilla oak. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Rioja with the juicy, lively, fresher acidity of the vintage, plenty of ripeness, and finely polished tannins, while more Bordeaux-like smoky tobacco and lead pencil notes develop with air. This beauty deserves another 3-4 years in the cellar and will evolve for at least two decades.

Country: Spain
Region: La Rioja
Appellation: Rioja

Size: 750ml
Color: Red

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SKU: 985464

More about this item

Winery

Cvne

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Varietal

Tempranillo

There are plenty of notable native Spanish grapes which have made a big impression on the wine world at large, but none are as renowned or as widely loved as the Tempranillo varietal. This black skinned grape has been used for wine making for centuries, with several ancient civilizations noticing the fact that it is highly versatile and holds some delicious flavors and aromas, perfect for those looking for a powerful yet elegant grape for their wines. Tempranillo often causes winemakers some trouble, however, as it is highly susceptible to many diseases. Despite this, plenty continue to persevere with this varietal, as it is perfect for producing delicious and complex single variety and blended wines, packed full of classic Spanish flavors and plenty of aromatic and intense surprises.

Country

Spain

Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.

Region

La Rioja

La Rioja is by far the most famous wine region of Spain, and remains one of the world's great wine producing regions, consistently offering deep, complex red wines of character and distinction, partly due to the fact that La Rioja benefits from excellent soils, rich in minerals and nutrients, and plenty of sunshine. The climatic conditions allow the fine grape varietals to reach full ripeness and express plenty of the best features of their terroir, making La Rioja wines some of the most interesting to have ever come out of Europe. The Cantabrian mountains to the north provide the perfect shelter from the colder, wetter influences of the Atlantic oceans, and in the beloved vineyards of La Rioja, wineries have been cultivating exceedingly flavorful Tempranillo grapes for generations for the inclusion in their fine single variety and blended wines.

Appellation

Rioja

Rioja, a renowned wine appellation in Spain, stands as an emblem of the country's winemaking heritage and innovation. What makes Rioja unique is its commitment to blending traditional and modern winemaking methods. Primarily crafted from Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo as supporting players, Rioja wines showcase a remarkable balance of fruit, oak, and complex aging. Rioja's classification system, featuring Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, delineates the aging periods, highlighting the region's dedication to quality. The use of American oak barrels imparts distinctive vanilla and coconut notes, contributing to Rioja's recognizable profile. The diverse terroir, from the high-altitude vineyards of Rioja Alta to the warmer Rioja Baja, adds depth and complexity to the wines. Exploring Rioja allows enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of Spanish winemaking, where historic bodegas coexist with modern practices, resulting in wines that seamlessly marry tradition and innovation, offering a glimpse into the soul of Spanish viticulture.

Ratings & Reviews

JD 96pts

Jeb Dunnuck

JS 95pts

James Suckling

This shows a concentrated nose of dark fruit with a touch of violets. The palate is balanced, with fresh fruit alongside concentration and depth, framed by a firmer structure and chalky tannins. The fruit is more restrained with more imposing tannins. Drink or hold.

WA 94pts

Wine Advocate

I tasted two vintages of the Gran Reserva from Haro, starting with the 2017 Imperial Gran Reserva from a warm and dry year whose yields were lowered by frost in late April and was saved by rains at the end of July. It's 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo with 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.31 grams of acidity. It fermented in small oak vats followed by malolactic in concrete and aging in French (70%) and American oak barrels for two years, during which time the wine was racked every eight months. It's evolving at a slightly faster pace and maybe it's a little lighter, but I didn't feel the heat, which is quite something. It's drinking well. 75,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020.

WS 94pts

Wine Spectator

A fresh, graceful red, with dense, sculpted tannins creating good tension while finding fine integration with a lovely range of ripe black plum and black cherry, cured tobacco, balsamico and minerally iron and tar notes. Firm and racy on the lasting, spiced finish. Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Best from 2025 through 2035. 4,166 cases made, 500 cases imported.

VM 94pts

Vinous Media

The 2017 Gran Reserva Imperial blends 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from Villalba in Rioja Alta. Aged for 24 months in oak barrels (two-thirds French, one-third American), it's a dark garnet red. The 2017 reveals alluring aromas of sour cherry, blackberry and hints of mint, all set against an oak backdrop. Dry and concentrated, it finishes powerfully, achieving significant nuance for a ripe year in Rioja.

DC 94pts

Decanter

Child of a turbulent year in which frost and storms lowered the yields but also concentrated the fruit, as evidenced by the cherry-black intensity on display here and the pronounced aromatics of pine, forest floor, mature blackberries and balsam. On the palate the traditional Imperial elegance already holds sway, the tannins somehow both muscular and velvety, the fruit character warming and generous with a spicy, seductive embrace on the finish.

Winery Notes

Deep ruby colour with cherry notes. Great complexity and aromatic quality of compote fruit, licorice stick, and those from its aging such as spicy and balsamic aromas. Light vanillas, toffees and chocolates also appear. The palate is smooth and silky, with well defined tannins and a long and pleasant aftertaste.