CVNE 'Imperial' Rioja Reserva 2018

Imperial Rioja Reserva is consistently one of Rioja’s outstanding wines, it never fails to impress. It has a classic nose of dark red fruit, wild strawberry and black cherry along with complex oak flavours of tobacco, spice, vanilla, chocolate and herbs. It has a faultless structure, great vigour and is immensely enjoyable. Great with lamb and roast red meats.

Imperial is the flagship brand from CVNE and has, since its inception in the 1920s, been one of Rioja’s most iconic wines as well as being CVNE’s finest expression from their very best vineyards. Most of the grapes are sourced from 28 hectares of CVNE’s own vineyards in the Rioja Alta villages of Villalba, Briones, and Torremontalbo. Average vine age is over 20 years. Being in the west of Rioja these vineyards have a distinct climate which is more influenced by the Atlantic Ocean bringing a freshness to the wines. The consistency and age worthiness of these wines is remarkable and although they drink beautifully now, no cellar should be without a case or two of older vintages.