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| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.9 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 109 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Paul D on 2/9/2024 & rated 89 points: With AW and FC at Hispania. Nose is quite developed with lots of tobacco, underlying black fruits, touch of vanilla. Medium bodied, tobaccoey black fruit, soft tannins, fresh acids, falls away a touch on the finish. Enjoyable but not one of the best Imperial GR vintages. (223 views) | | | Tasted by FEDEVIDAL on 7/3/2022 & rated 93 points: Color picota de capa media. Aroma de intensidad media pero vivo esencialmente terciarios como cuero, cenizas o tierra pero también se encuentra fruta negra fresca y abundante. En boca es muy suave táninos redondos y perfectamente integrados, mucha expresividad, en boca resalta más la fruta negra y madura que nariz, madera muy discreta y bien integrada y final muy largo.
No es un Rioja clásico en el sentido tradicional de la palabra, al menos en estos momentos, tampoco tiene nada que ver con los puñetazos denominados modernos, me parece que se trata de un ejemplo de evolución bien entendida, que quizá con mayor tiempo evolucione hacia el clasicismo típico. De todas formas entiendo que hoy por hoy es un vino para beber y disfrutar -y disfrutar mucho-, y que tiene larga vida por delante con muchas posibilidades de ir creciendo y quizá en este caso y evolucionando a un concepto clásico. (1365 views) | | | Tasted by empire80 on 5/22/2021 & rated 92 points: Nothing to add to my last note "A beautiful wine, fully mature but absolutely no rush. Gentle spice, nutmeg, tobacco, a great example of traditional rioja". Fantastic with a lamb leg steak. (2094 views) | | | Tasted by stevenc.rees@gmail.com on 1/27/2021 & rated 92 points: Dark red, just starting to fade at the edges. wood in the nose, old oak and cedar; leather and dried black fruits.
As it opened up the nose refined, and the palate showed firm body, crisp and full flavors. Youthful somehow. Medium long finish. Typical of a very good Rioja GR. highly recommended. Served with flat iron steak and pesto on bread. Drink or hold. (2311 views) | | | Tasted by andtheodor on 8/21/2020 & rated 92 points: Opened to go with some paella valenciana in the backyard. I was worried this might still be all acrid oak, and it does carry some burden of wood still, but it's buttressed nicely by great acidity and dark fruit. Some higher toned aromatics come out with air and everything begins to meld. At the very beginning of what will probably be a long and lovely maturity. (2673 views) | | | Tasted by Krowson on 6/14/2020 & rated 94 points: Had this with some South African Tomahawks, WOW, this is superb. Drinking really well. Very popular with my guests! (2590 views) | | | Tasted by AW Marlow on 12/5/2019 & rated 90 points: Family supper at Tramshed (excellent food & service, £20 corkage).
Remarkably youthful and rich. Dark coloured (no bricking at all) and quite dark fruited. Not flabby at all but perhaps lacking a touch of structure and complexity compared to expectations based on previous bottles. Suspect there is no rush to drink this - many years left. But it will be interesting to see if this develops those tertiary qualities of the best old riojas. (2242 views) | | | Tasted by TheSauerKraut on 3/1/2019: Very good but still a bit young. Still showing a bit too much of those butter/coconut/pickle American oak notes. (2124 views) | | | Tasted by GonzaloManzaneda on 7/11/2018 & rated 92 points: Sabéis cuando abres una botellas, te la llevas a la nariz y piensas... WOW! Fue justo lo que me pasó con esta botella. Ya solamente el color prometía.
En nariz es fruta, tabaco, clavo, no es la típica nariz de Rioja tradicional pero tal vez sea lo que más me gusta de este vino.
Acidez punjante, fácilmente aguantará otros 10 años en plena forma aunque, bajo mi punto de vista, está en un momento dulce de consumo.
Lástima que sea la unica botella que tengo, abierta para celebrar una ocasión especial. (2739 views) | | | Tasted by jnewman77 on 3/2/2018: Nose with lovely dark fruit, tobacco, hints of spice and a touch of vanilla. Very good concentration with delicious flavors, excellent balance, and a great finish. This should easily age for another 10-15 years based on this showing. (2591 views) | | | Tasted by empire80 on 1/21/2018 & rated 92 points: A beautiful wine, fully mature but absolutely no rush. Gentle spice, nutmeg, tobacco, a great example of traditional rioja. (2397 views) | | | Tasted by mye on 12/24/2017: nose was muted on opening. an hour later, opened up slightly, with dark fruit, cinnamon, and orange rind. Dark red, with mellow resolved tannins. so easy to drink, i felt like the bottle went down without enough thought..
tasty but not really complex.. (2388 views) | | | Tasted by "Rhône Rider" on 12/14/2017 & rated 89 points: 1999 tobakk, kaffe, krydder, lite frukt, mye fat, noe appelsin. Lukket toastnese. Bra lengde, litt ubalansert. 89-90
Synes ikke dette forsvarer prisen (1980 views) | | | Tasted by NineteenEightyTwo on 8/29/2017 & rated 90 points: From magnum. Translucent rosewood color. Very tertiary nose, quite Old World and mineral-driven, with the hallmark CVNE orange peel aroma. The palate starts with soft red fruit flavors, perking up at midpalate and finishing in the gentle grip of moderate acidity. At or perhaps a hair past prime drinking, this should be enjoyed before year end. (1939 views) | | | Tasted by alfagirl on 6/20/2017 & rated 80 points: To echo another review - Drink up. Fruit is going. In my case, it was gone. (2329 views) | | | Tasted by WST on 7/31/2016: I love this wine. Very little maturation since my last bottle a year and a half ago. The nose is dominated by sweet pipe tobacco. Fresh; black and red fruit, caramel, and licorice. Great now, fine to hold for years/decades. (3792 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundynick on 5/12/2016 & rated 89 points: Drink up. The fruit is going 89 points (4193 views) | | | Tasted by Paul D on 1/11/2016: Medium deep/ruby, narrow pale rim. Extra-ordinarily youthful nose, blackcurrant, vanilla oak very prominent, charcoal. Medium/full bodied, black fruit, lots of sweet vanilla, chewy tannins, vibrant acidity, slight herbal note on the very good length, grippy finish. Too young, needs another 10 years on this showing. **(**). (4617 views) | | | Tasted by admid on 12/4/2015 & rated 93 points: P&P
Ap: dark ruby red
Ar: complex nose with heavy, but integrated oak. Good intensity
Full bodied and very well balanced
Very good length
50+5+13+17+8
Great wine that has changed a lot since last time a tried it. Very typical Rioja with heavy oak, but at this age it is nicely integrated and not that frontal. I would also guess the wine has a few years left, even though it is very nice now. (4067 views) | | | Tasted by AndrewR on 6/7/2015 & rated 92 points: Striking a near perfect balance of old world and new, burgundy and bordeaux, fruit and earth. Really complete with lots of life left although not quite as revelatory as some other vintages. Great but not spectacular. (4366 views) | | | Tasted by WST on 3/9/2015: Drinking young at 16 years. Fresh; black and red fruit, caramel, licorice, cigar tobacco. Great now, fine to hold for years/decades. (4359 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundynick on 12/31/2014 & rated 89 points: Good solid gran reserva. Sweet oak and caramel nose, tannins are fully integrated making it round and very drinkable. 89 points (4010 views) | | | Tasted by RussK on 12/10/2014 & rated 92 points: Russk. WW holiday party. My WOTN. I was in the Minority. Classy, Bx-like. Nice cut. 92+ (4157 views) | | | Tasted by Normann on 11/2/2014 & rated 92 points: A rich and powerful Rioja, dark berries on the nose. Currants, elegant and balanced. This is ready to drink. (3662 views) | | | Tasted by Simple palate on 9/15/2014 & rated 89 points: Moderate berry nose, medium palate, balanced.
Slightly rough finish tasted next to La Fleur 1976.
Enjoyable. (3212 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Nov/Dec 2014, Issue #54, Cuné and Contino Rioja Legendary Classics
(Rioja “Imperial” Gran Reserva- Cuné) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/3/2011)
(CVNE, Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, September/October 2010, IWC Issue #152
(CVNE (Cune) Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/2/2011)
(C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva) Bricking very dark red violet color; mature, berry, dill, plum, baked berry nose; maturing, soft, tart plum, dill, baked berry palate; simple, ready to drink; medium finish (85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo; aged 24 mos. in French and American oak) 88 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of View From the Cellar and JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Producer website
U.S. Importer (add'l info)
alternate U.S. Importer (add'l info)Tempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.
As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly.Spain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.La Rioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
Map on weinlagen-infoLa Rioja Alta Map on weinlagen-infoRioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
HISTORY
The wine region of La Rioja in Spain was first demarcated by the area's governing body, the Consejo Regulador, in 1926. The region extends for approximately 120 kilometres along both sides of the Ebro River and is, at its widest point, bounded by mountains on either side. In fact, the word 'Rioja' is a derivation of the two words 'Rio' (River) and 'Oja (the name of a tributary of the Ebro that runs right through La Rioja creating a series of microclimates and providing much needed water for the vines).
La Rioja has always been a vital part of Spain's history. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, and finally, medieval Crusaders have all played a part in the area's history. The Romans, however, made wine a part of their culture wherever they travelled, and La Rioja was no exception. Ancient sites of Roman wineries still exist in and around the area today.
After the Romans came the Moors, and winemaking all but ceased. It wasn't until after the famous 'El Cid' liberated Spain, and medieval Christianity brought trade via the Crusaders through the region, that it flourished again. The Benedictine monks of Cluny in Burgundy, known for their viticulture, helped to establish three monasteries in the area. The vines they planted were mostly white grapes. In the fourteenth century, English traders acquired a taste for a local Rioja wine, which was a blend of white and red wines called Blancos Pardillos. Over time, development of lighter reds came about satisfying eighteenth century English and French courts.
The real improvements to Rioja's viticulture began around 1780 when the need to prolong wine during transport brought about experimentation with different woods and preservatives. Studies were made of the techniques used by great chateaux in Bordeaux. With the outbreak of the Peninsular War, progress was halted until 1852, when the Bordelais came south to Rioja seeking vines because their vineyards had been blighted with oidium. French winemaking methods were eagerly taken up by great rivals the Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal (who both claim to have been the first in Rioja to make wine in the Bordeaux fashion).
When phylloxera devastated Bordeaux in the 1870s and the French influence really took hold in Rioja, many of the region's finest bodegas started production on what we now consider as the great wines of Rioja. It’s important to remember that Bordeaux winemaking methods then were very different to those employed today in France, and involved long ageing in barrel, a factor that the Riojans took up enthusiastically. So enthusiastically in fact that to this day there are a number of Bodegas that still make their wine in a surprisingly similar fashion to that of the Bordelais in the later part of the 1800s and this also explains why oak ageing is such an important part of Riojan winemaking.
USE OF OAK
Pronounced vanilla flavours in the wines are a trademark of the region though some modern winemakers are experimenting with making wines less influenced by oak. Originally French oak was used but as the cost of the barrels increased many bodegas began to buy American oak planks and fashion them into barrels at Spanish cooperages in a style more closely resembling the French method. This included hand splitting the wood, rather than sawing, and allowing the planks time to dry and 'season' in the outdoors versus drying in the kiln. In recent times, more bodegas have begun using French oak and many will age wines in both American and French oak for blending purposes.
In the past, it was not uncommon for some bodegas to age their red wines for 15-20 years or even more before their release. One notable example of this is Marqués de Murrieta which released its 1942 vintage Gran Reserva in 1983 after 41 years of ageing. Today most bodegas have shifted their winemaking focus to wines that are ready to drink sooner with the top wines typically ageing for 4-8 years prior to release though some traditionalists still age longer. The typical bodega owns anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 oak barrels.
The use of oak in white wine has declined significantly in recent times when before the norm was traditionally 2-5 years in oak. This created slightly oxidised wines with flavours of caramel, coffee, and roasted nuts that did not appeal to a large market of consumers. Today the focus of white winemakers has been to enhance the vibrancy and fruit flavours of the wine.
WINE CLASSIFICATION
Most Riojan Bodegas believe that the ageing of a wine should be the responsibility of the producer rather than that of the consumer, and this is why much Rioja is more mature than wines from other countries. Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labelled 'Rioja', or 'Sin Crianza' (meaning 'without ageing') is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "Crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which is in oak. 'Reserva' is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, 'Gran Reserva' wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessarily produced each year. Also produced are wines in a semi-crianza style, those that have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza. The designation of Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva might not always appear on the front label but may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
SUB REGIONS
Rioja Alta
Located on the western edge of the region, and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known for more fruity and concentrated wines which can have very smooth texture and mouth feel.
Rioja Alavesa
Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity. Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil.
Rioja Baja
Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticultural hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 95°F. Twenty percent of the vineyards actually fall within the Navarra appellation but the wine produced from the grapes is still allowed to claim the Rioja designation. The predominant grape here is the Garnacha which prefers the hot conditions, unlike the more aromatic Tempranillo. Consequently Baja wines are very deeply coloured and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. The wines typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of
the Rioja.
The Riojans are master blenders (as they have to be because there are relatively few single estates in the area, the norm being to blend from a wide variety of vineyards and wine areas). Consequently they are able to reduce vintage variation by careful blending and many of the best wines vary relatively little between vintages.
VITICULTURE & GRAPES
Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). Rioja has a total of 57,000 hectares cultivated, yielding 250 million litres of wine annually, of which 85% is red. The harvest time for most Rioja vineyards is September-October with the northern Rioja Alta having the latest harvest in late October. The soil here is clay-based with a high concentration of chalk and iron (which provides the redness in the soil that may be responsible for the region's name, Rioja, meaning red). There is also significant concentration of limestone, sandstone and alluvial silt.
Among the Tintos, the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano. Each grape adds a unique component to the wine with Tempranillo contributing the main flavours and ageing potential to the wine; Garnacha adding body and alcohol; Mazuelo adding seasoning flavours and Graciano adding additional aromas.
With Rioja Blanco, Viura is the prominent grape (also known as Macabeo) and is sometimes blended with some Malvesia and Garnacha Blanca. In the white wines the Viura contributes mild fruitness, acidity and some aroma to the blend with Garnacha Blanca adding body and Malvasia adding aroma. Rosados are mostly derived from Garnacha grapes. The 'international varieties' of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have gained some attention and use through experimental plantings by some bodegas but their use has created wines distinctly different from the typical Rioja.
Some of the most sought after grapes come from the limestone/sandstone based 'old vine' vineyards in the Alavesa and Alta regions. These 40 year old plus vines are prized due to their low yields and more concentrated flavours. A unique DO regulation stipulates that the cost of the grapes used to make Rioja must exceed by at least 200% the national average of wine grapes used in all Spanish wines.
VINTAGE CHART
Rioja (Red) Year %
2004 Superb vintage, classic wines Drink or Hold 94
2003 Hot, dry year, long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 91
2002 Smallest vintage in 10 years. Variable quality.
Keep to top names Drink or Hold 87
2001 Excellent year for long ageing Reservas
and Gran Reservas Drink or Hold 94
2000 A generally good vintage with fine Reservas Drink or Hold 89
1999 Smaller vintage of good quality Drink or Hold 88
1998 Good vintage Drink or Hold 97
1997 Unexciting so far, but quaffable Drink or Hold 84
1996 Good year, plenty of ageing potential Drink or Hold 89
1995 Very good vintage, Reservas now showing excellent fruit Drink or Hold 92
1994 Outstanding, some great long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 94
1993 Lesser wines, apart from best-known names Drink 77
1992 Rather light vintage Drink 80
1991 Still improving, average quality Drink or Hold 85
1990 Fairly ordinary but quaffable Drink 84
1989 Good, firm structure Drink 88
Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva – Vintages of the Eighties Year %
1989 Goodish vintage, well balanced Drink 88
1988 Fairly good vintage, well balanced wines Drink 88
1987 Very attractive vintage, now at peak Drink 90
1986 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1985 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1984 Disappointing, with problem weather Avoid 80
1983 Don't keep it any longer Drink 86
1982 Now past its best Drink 83
1981 Superb wines, finest will keep longer Drink 90
1980 Average vintage, don't keep any longer Drink 86
More vintage charts
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