In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, tobacco
Palate: ripe red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury
The Reserva tier of CVNE's prestige Imperial line, from Rioja Alta fruit: ripe, savoury and balanced with classic American-and-French-oak spice.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Imperial Reserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Imperial Reserva is the younger-released sibling of the Gran Reserva, drawn from the same Rioja Alta sources.
- 1920 — Imperial line established
Facts
- Producer
- CVNE
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%), Mazuelo (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 to 24 months in French and American oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 25 to 40 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1920
Scores
- Tim Atkin 93 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Imperial Reserva
What does Imperial Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, tobacco. On the palate, ripe red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The Reserva tier of CVNE's prestige Imperial line, from Rioja Alta fruit: ripe, savoury and balanced with classic American-and-French-oak spice.
When should I drink Imperial Reserva?
Drink 5 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Imperial Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Imperial Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Imperial Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%), Mazuelo (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.