In the glass

Full-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

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.

History

The Imperial Reserva is the younger-released sibling of the Gran Reserva, drawn from the same Rioja Alta sources.

  1. 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)

Tags

cellar worthy dry full body graciano high acid mazuelo medium tannin mood elegant mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up still red tempranillo
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