2019 Imperial Reserva, CVNE, Rioja

"The 2019 CVNE Imperial Reserva impresses with the first sniff and slurp. A similar blend to the above, from vines that are over 40 years old, each parcel from each vineyard is fermented and aged separately in whatever barrels best suit the grape and terroir. Focus is all with this wine, and it’s impossible not to be impressed by its depth and complexity and the immense pleasure each glass brings."
Jonathan Ray, The Spectator Magazine

CVNEs Imperial wines have long been my benchmark Rioja, to which all others must be compared, so it comes as no surprise that yet again they have produced another absolute stunner of a wine. Using fruit exclusively sourced from CVNEs own 40 year old plus vineyards all within the Rioja Alta region, the Imperial Reserva is primarily made up of tempranillo with just a few traces of garnacha and graciano.

No expense is spared in the viticulture or the winemaking in either time or cost and the results really pay dividends. From the very start, the nose is just so incredibly enticing, pencil shaving oak, the lightest scent of vanilla, crunchy red berried fruit and a warming earthiness and thats just the start. Dark black fruit follows with a real intensity, there are no rough edges here, just soft ripe tannins providing a lovely structure to hold and further escalate the wonderful purity of fruit within.

We have no doubt you could enjoy this wine with any food combination because it is so so drinkable but if you can find it, Iberico Pluma pork could really be a match made in heaven.