A long time favorite Rioja. Sad seeing the price jump up nearly 25$ in two years. Nose of red cherry, leather and oak. Palate has cherry, vanilla, leather, cloves and nutmeg. Medium finish and smooth tannins. This can age for a while still. At the current price headed near 100$ in some areas, I will be looking for other Riojas like Muga Prado Enea and LRA 904 which are better in that price range in my opinion.
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Others have already described the characters of this wine really well, nothing more to add from my side. I could not help myself so opened a 2015 bottle...and WOW!!! Already this good, there is potential in this wine for sure. The other 2015 bottle and the 2011 bottle in my cellar, I will definitely keep for ageing...and buy a couple more. 😉
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Wow! So glad I have quite a few of these! It’s already on an excellent level, but clearly keeps going. Still a structure of acidity and tannins to take it to 94+ in a few years. Wonderful.
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Overbevisende godt glas vin med yderligere potentiale. Flot åben næse med god dybde og masser af mørke og røde bær i form af kirsebær, solbær, brombær, blå blommer og finsk lakrids, skovbund, vanille, bøgeflis og røg. Smagen er frisk og frugtig, men med en gennemgående note af røg. Lidt vandig midtpalette, men herlig lang frugtig og let sødlig eftersmag. Flot vin, som jeg tror fortsat vil udvikle sig i kælderen. + 8-10 år.
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I’m not an experienced Rioja drinker so will not score. I found this to be dominated by oak aromas/flavors. Overall it seemed too simple with unintegrated oak. Did not seem ready to drink. Not enjoyable at this stage for me.
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Blueberries, cinnamon, milk chocolate, almonds, medium roast coffee, toffee and flower shop. Doetg and focus, with layers of black and blue fruits. There’s some pepper during the long, evolved finish. The middle palate remains plush and forthright: this is a truly classic Rioja. The aging potential scores high. Cottony tannins with grip, yet fade off. All throughout there’s a fresh leather element. Such a study. Drink now -.
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This really opened up after about 3+ hours. The nose is deep, contemplative, and balanced. Even at this young age it shows off his class with complex tones of sour red cherries, Moroccan spices, crushed rocks, fresh leather, raspberries, cranberries, violets, and dried roses. The full body peel is elegant and long with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The structure is clearly youthful as is the wine, and they should develop extremely well over the next 5-8+ years.
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The 2015 Imperial Gran Reserva is made of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. The nose is expressive, clear and quite cool. Dark berry fruit, black cherries, some plum and light tobacco leaves. The palate is even more persistent, deeper and also more complex. Full-bodied, very clear, excellent, still gripping noble tannins; the acidity is clear and balances the wine perfectly with its power. Dark berry fruit again, plum pits, some toasted coconut and a hint of vanilla creme brulee. Underneath are appealing earth tones, light tobacco leaf and fresh nutmeg. The wine has very good definition, is clear and deep. Amazingly cool despite the 14% alcohol. This is already a joy to drink, but has huge aging potential. A great treat for friends of classic Rioja wine. 94/100 2023-2040
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Lovely representation of rioja. Drink by date is off by decades. This is lovely now I could see it going another decade in a magnum before it begins declining.
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Wine was much better on the nose than the palate. It lacked in body and complexity, flavors of berries and tobacco coming at you gingerly and tentatively. It almost felt like it was past its prime, which is crazy to say for an 8 year old Rioja. Maybe our expectations were to high, but we came away rather disappointed
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Still a bit tight, and will benefit from a few more years, but very enjoyable where it is now. Chalky tannins and moderately high acidity supported a core of fresh juicy plums, black cherries, and black raspberries that unfolded over two hours in the decanter.
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Keeping 92 with a clear path to 93+ in 3-5 years. No longer tight. More harmony. Drunk along 2011 904, which was better, but no longer much better - this is clearly catching up. Great QPR. long and beautiful life ahead of it.
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After bad streak with 4 red wines with ratings 89 or less, I knew I have to open "sure thing". And here we go. 5 years ago I rated 2005 vintage 5.0. Well, either my taste is now more sophisticated or this vintage is not so good like 05. Why 4.7 but not 5.0? Because this wine is, I would say "shy", delicate, too " polite". Every thing is here but with no exclamation point or "cry". Aromas: lovely mix of blackberry and tabacco ( I couldn't believe it, because it was first time I experienced it). If you want to get smell of forest and minerals, you have them. Taste - shy, soft, silky, floral, classical music of Mozart. Finish not too long ( 😵💫) but with perfect balance between acidity, tannins and soft spice.
Tasted after 2017 Imperial Reserva. Powerful on nose and palate. Notes of liquorice, red/dark fruit, tobacco, spices, cedar. Quite muted on the palate - good acidity, powerful tannins, lots of fruit underneath. Great depth and length. Very promising, but too young. 93-94+
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Typical rich nose of temperanillo. Still quite tight and the acid needs to resolve further. Great fruit and wonderful complexity. Will be 93-4 in 5 years or so. For now it should rest I will drink my 9-10-11 now. Couldn’t wait to try this, though.
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4/16/2024 - Bjb81 Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Dark fruit, cherries, tobacco and vanilla, balsamic. Nice acidity, silky
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3/5/2024 - "Rhône Rider" wrote: 93 Points
Tobakk, kirsebær, anis, grafitt. Elegant og intens med godt integrert fat. Meget lang. 93
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3/1/2024 - DevenStephens Likes this wine: 94 Points
A long time favorite Rioja. Sad seeing the price jump up nearly 25$ in two years. Nose of red cherry, leather and oak. Palate has cherry, vanilla, leather, cloves and nutmeg. Medium finish and smooth tannins. This can age for a while still. At the current price headed near 100$ in some areas, I will be looking for other Riojas like Muga Prado Enea and LRA 904 which are better in that price range in my opinion.
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2/18/2024 - bingsen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruity with some complexity and limited depth. Slightly overpriced to my view.
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1/19/2024 - Teti76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Others have already described the characters of this wine really well, nothing more to add from my side. I could not help myself so opened a 2015 bottle...and WOW!!! Already this good, there is potential in this wine for sure. The other 2015 bottle and the 2011 bottle in my cellar, I will definitely keep for ageing...and buy a couple more. 😉
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12/8/2023 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! So glad I have quite a few of these! It’s already on an excellent level, but clearly keeps going. Still a structure of acidity and tannins to take it to 94+ in a few years. Wonderful.
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12/2/2023 - Dinamarca wrote: 94 Points
Overbevisende godt glas vin med yderligere potentiale. Flot åben næse med god dybde og masser af mørke og røde bær i form af kirsebær, solbær, brombær, blå blommer og finsk lakrids, skovbund, vanille, bøgeflis og røg. Smagen er frisk og frugtig, men med en gennemgående note af røg. Lidt vandig midtpalette, men herlig lang frugtig og let sødlig eftersmag. Flot vin, som jeg tror fortsat vil udvikle sig i kælderen. + 8-10 år.
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10/17/2023 - Ryan@Rhone Does not like this wine:
I’m not an experienced Rioja drinker so will not score. I found this to be dominated by oak aromas/flavors. Overall it seemed too simple with unintegrated oak. Did not seem ready to drink. Not enjoyable at this stage for me.
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10/7/2023 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blueberries, cinnamon, milk chocolate, almonds, medium roast coffee, toffee and flower shop. Doetg and focus, with layers of black and blue fruits. There’s some pepper during the long, evolved finish. The middle palate remains plush and forthright: this is a truly classic Rioja. The aging potential scores high. Cottony tannins with grip, yet fade off. All throughout there’s a fresh leather element. Such a study. Drink now -.
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8/30/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
This really opened up after about 3+ hours. The nose is deep, contemplative, and balanced. Even at this young age it shows off his class with complex tones of sour red cherries, Moroccan spices, crushed rocks, fresh leather, raspberries, cranberries, violets, and dried roses. The full body peel is elegant and long with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The structure is clearly youthful as is the wine, and they should develop extremely well over the next 5-8+ years.
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8/12/2023 - MQuentel@web.de Likes this wine: 94 Points
The 2015 Imperial Gran Reserva is made of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo.
The nose is expressive, clear and quite cool. Dark berry fruit, black cherries, some plum and light tobacco leaves. The palate is even more persistent, deeper and also more complex. Full-bodied, very clear, excellent, still gripping noble tannins; the acidity is clear and balances the wine perfectly with its power. Dark berry fruit again, plum pits, some toasted coconut and a hint of vanilla creme brulee. Underneath are appealing earth tones, light tobacco leaf and fresh nutmeg. The wine has very good definition, is clear and deep. Amazingly cool despite the 14% alcohol. This is already a joy to drink, but has huge aging potential. A great treat for friends of classic Rioja wine. 94/100 2023-2040
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6/18/2023 - jchrisharris Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely representation of rioja. Drink by date is off by decades. This is lovely now I could see it going another decade in a magnum before it begins declining.
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3/29/2023 - ElleH wrote: 85 Points
Wine was much better on the nose than the palate. It lacked in body and complexity, flavors of berries and tobacco coming at you gingerly and tentatively. It almost felt like it was past its prime, which is crazy to say for an 8 year old Rioja. Maybe our expectations were to high, but we came away rather disappointed
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10/11/2022 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a bit tight, and will benefit from a few more years, but very enjoyable where it is now. Chalky tannins and moderately high acidity supported a core of fresh juicy plums, black cherries, and black raspberries that unfolded over two hours in the decanter.
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9/19/2022 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Keeping 92 with a clear path to 93+ in 3-5 years. No longer tight. More harmony. Drunk along 2011 904, which was better, but no longer much better - this is clearly catching up. Great QPR. long and beautiful life ahead of it.
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7/19/2022 - WojteG Likes this wine: 95 Points
After bad streak with 4 red wines with ratings 89 or less, I knew I have to open "sure thing". And here we go. 5 years ago I rated 2005 vintage 5.0. Well, either my taste is now more sophisticated or this vintage is not so good like 05. Why 4.7 but not 5.0? Because this wine is, I would say "shy", delicate, too " polite". Every thing is here but with no exclamation point or "cry". Aromas: lovely mix of blackberry and tabacco ( I couldn't believe it, because it was first time I experienced it).
If you want to get smell of forest and minerals, you have them.
Taste - shy, soft, silky, floral, classical music of Mozart.
Finish not too long ( 😵💫) but with perfect balance between acidity, tannins and soft spice.
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7/2/2022 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Tasted after 2017 Imperial Reserva. Powerful on nose and palate. Notes of liquorice, red/dark fruit, tobacco, spices, cedar. Quite muted on the palate - good acidity, powerful tannins, lots of fruit underneath. Great depth and length. Very promising, but too young. 93-94+
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6/19/2022 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. From the 2022 WS Grand Event. Too young and tight to enjoy. The Reserva might have shown better.
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5/29/2022 - Donlazaro wrote:
Q
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5/20/2022 - Rudolph Schmidt Likes this wine:
Wowza. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano & 5% Mazuelo
3h decant. Cigar smoking room, black raspberries, soil, slight smoked chipotle, cherry, clove.
Insane structure with length that just don't quit. This is just a baby right now. Forget it in the cellar for another 10 years.
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4/10/2022 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical rich nose of temperanillo. Still quite tight and the acid needs to resolve further. Great fruit and wonderful complexity. Will be 93-4 in 5 years or so. For now it should rest I will drink my 9-10-11 now. Couldn’t wait to try this, though.
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10/31/2021 - jtsejersen@gmail.com Does not like this wine: 80 Points
I don’t know what to say… Once again these wines shows too much warm and over extracted fruit. Too powerful, lacks finesse….
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5/9/2021 - Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted alongside the 2010 C.V.N.E. Gran Reserva that was not an Imperial.
Much more fruit and new world richness and roundness in this wine, with less dry herbs and more balsamic notes throughout...
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1/13/2021 - Chicochico Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well balanced
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