CVNE - Imperial Rioja Reserva 2016 (750ml)
James Suckling: 96 Points
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.
Vinous: 94 Points
Deep brilliant ruby. Cherry cassis vanilla and incense on the expansive nose where a zesty mineral note adds vibrancy. Sappy and precise on the palate offering sweet dark berry cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors along with hints of mocha and spicecake. Rich and ample in style but shows superb energy as well. Finishes sweet seamless and extremely long with lingering florality and polished fully integrated tannins.
Wine Advocate: 93 Points
The prototype of red from Rioja Alta could very well be the 2016 Imperial Reserva fine precise and powerful. The grapes for this cuvée were picked between October 10th and 25th and it's a canonical blend of 85% Tempranillo and the rest Graciano Mazuelo and Garnacha with 14% alcohol and balancing freshness. It fermented with their own Imperial yeasts in oak vats of different sizes and matured in French and American oak barrels for 24 months. This wine has a very defined style that should not change; it has more oak than the Asúa Reserva and is made with grapes not only from Haro but also from Torremontalvo Villalba and Briones. 2016 was a cooler year and the wines are fresher and balanced. This has the mushroomy touch from the old cave and plenty of tannins that are going to require powerful food and/or time in bottle. A classic among classics. 150000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.
