Rioja Imperial Reserva (CVNE) 2020
£34.95 per bottle
ABV 14.0%
2019 was a warm and classical year of healthy grapes, and the 2019 Imperial Gran Reserva is a powerful version only produced in exceptional years. Produced with a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, it fermented in oak vats with their own selected yeasts, and the wine matured for two years in new and used barriques, 80% of them French and the rest American. It has a classical nose, with notes of dry leaves, truffle, cigar ash and dark spices and a touch of iodine and earth. It comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.63 and 5.67 grams of acidity. It's harmonious and balanced, with elegant, polished and sleek tannins. 56,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022.
Luis Gutiérrez 95/100
"Extremely floral and attractive with crushed lavender, rosemary and violets to the blue fruit. Full body. Tight and integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Shows depth and structure. One of the best from here in a long time. Drink in 2021, but already attention grabbing."
96
James Suckling, September 2020 (2016 vintage)