About the Wine
Our finest Rioja Alta vineyards are destined for the production of Imperial Gran Reserva, the plots from which the grapes are harvested are located between 550 and 650 m of altitude with a climate of Atlantic and continental influence. The vines are bush trained, dry farmed and the plots are small. The soils are clay with areas of river pebbles, are low in organic matter and are situated on gentle south facing slopes.
Imperial Gran Reserva is an iconic Rioja and Spanish wine. It is only made when harvests are exceptional. This wine is designed to last and improve over time.
The harvest is made manually of selected vineyards, with a double selection of grapes both in the vineyard as in the winery. Cold refrigeration of whole bunches in order to improve fruit extraction and color stability. The crushed grapes were transported by gravity to small oak vats for maceration with cold temperature for a few hours. Followed by fermentation with indigenous yeasts at controlled temperature between 28 and 29ºC. Punching and delestage are carried out daily during fermentation, as well as tastings to determine the perfect moment for draining the vat. After completing the malolactic fermentation in concrete vats, the wine is aged for two years in French and American oak barrels, new and from one wine, with rackings every 8 months, followed by aging in bottle in our century-old cellars until the wine is released to the market.
Vintage
The 2017 harvest in the Imperial vineyards bagan on the 18th of September and ended on the 3rd of October. The year began with warmer temperatures than usual which brougth forward the growing season, including bud burst. The new growth then succumbed heavily to the severe frost at the end of April reducing even furdther a yield which had already been diminished by drought. At the end of July, isolated storms helped to restore vegetative balance in the vines, so raising hopes for improved production yields. Tioja Alta's usual continental climate with cool summer nights contributed to avoiding excessive ripening in the grapes and assisted in producing a high quality vintage. In addition regular checks in the vineyard wre critical in deciding the optimum timing for the harvest and safeguarding thecharacteristic freshness of wines from the region
Tasting Notes
Intense cherry red layer. On the nose it is interesting for its complexity, highlighting the liquorice, the fruits of the forest and the aromas of cloves, roasted coffee, cigar leaf, chocolate, caramel and certain balsamic notes, which naturally come from the stay in the barrel. The palate is marked by a velvety tannin that gives it the elegance of this wine as well as having a very attractive aftertaste. In the glass it will evolve, expanding its aromatic variety. It can be paired alone or accompanied by red meats, game, fatty fish, cured cheeses...Recommended serving temperature 18ºC.
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha
Aging: 24 months in French and American oak barrels
ABV: 14%
![CVNE Cune Imperial Gran Reserva DOC 2017 (Rioja, Spain) - [JS 97] [DM 96] [VM 94] [WS 94]](http://artisan-wine-spirits.myshopify.com/cdn/shop/files/excz69b6ehd9qqgikqlc_{width}x.jpg?v=1741823087)