TWS Rioja tasting (Chelsea Old Town Hall): Now we're talking - strawberry, spice and leather on the nose. Still powerful but it has developed some levity and complexity. A satisfying blend of creaky musty tertiary goodness and primary concentration. Smoothness and lift on the palate. Resolved with chalky tannins and great concentration and length. Lovely.
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Tasted at Terroir Renaissance. Great development in Magnum. Wet leaves, earthy and tobacco. The fruits are still very much present. Lovely and vibrant.
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Spain (Home): Very reductive. Nose with fart and some strawberries. Thin taste, with some fruit along the lines of strawberries.Over the top, not optimal bottle.
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Verticale CVNE SAQ 2016 Assez typé traditionnel. Disque briqué toujours. Nez sur la tourbe, l'humus. Ça sent le fond de cave humide, mouillée. Tannins fondus/absents. Past-peak? Clairement, je ne paierais pas ce prix (199$) **
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Un Imperial nada al uso, distinto y cumplidor. Se presenta desinhibido, ancho, cebado de apuntes cremosos y lácteos, manteca de cacao, café tostado, toffee. Sin mesura aunque un tanto lineal y falto de mayor complejidad. Hay una buena cantidad de fruta roja madura desdibujada por especias ahumadas y un fondo endrinado, licoroso, a guindas al marrasquino y una nota dulzona a bollería. No acaba de ir a más.
En boca es mucho más ligero de lo que cabría esperar, enjunto, reposado, redondo, dotado de una acidez que levanta el conjunto. Correcto, agradable, aún marcado por la crianza aunque sin aristas. En general da la impresión de ser menos parco que la cosecha del 90. Está ya templado y se disfruta en plenitud pero difícilmente tenga las mismas posibilidades de desarrollo. Espontáneo, sin reservas, lúdico aunque falto de mayor profundidad. Se vislumbra ya hacia dónde van a ir los tiros en la siguiente década con esta marca legendaria.
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75% tempranillo, 15% graciano, 10% mazuelo - 13% vol. - Permanece en depósitos hasta finalizar la fermentación maloláctica antes de ser trasegado para posteriormente criarse en madera. El vino madura durante 36 meses en barricas semi-nuevas de 225 litros, 70% de roble americano y 30% francés. Un mínimo de 36 meses de guarda en los botelleros de los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado a mediados de la década de los 90. Reencorchado cada 20 años. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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This wine does not tick all the boxes conventionally required for a big score but, in terms of distinction and sheer pleasure conveyed, it outshines most which do.
This is a lovely, elegant and harmonious wine. Colour was a limpid but not very deep red with some bricking at the rim. The nose was discreet but with some fine red fruit and restrained flowers mingled with hints of vanilla and tobacco. The palate was medium bodied at most and linear in shape and even lean but provided a perfect vehicle for some lovely bright and decently acid red fruit with a raspberry tinge, fragrant floral aromas, touches of forest floor and a gentle sweetness again mingled with discreet vanilla and tobacco. Tannins were beautifully resolved but left the right support for the finish. I feared at first that the wine might be too self effacing for some delicious lamb but in the event the pairing was perfect. Really excellent.
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Imperial Gran Reserva Vertical Tasting / Cata Vertical Imperial Gran Reserva (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Fermented in concreted. Bordeaux-like colour (brilliant brick). The sort of wine nose I adore. Toffee, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, surprisingly artichokes and pencil lead. Perfect wax aroma. Honey. Profund and complex. Gliceric, creamy, milky mouthfeel. Refreshing palate with a balanced acidity. 1988 was just a fair harvest for Rioja but a very good one for Cune. My WOTN.
Fermentado en hormigón. Color Burdeos (ladrillo brillante). La clase de nariz que adoro. Toffee, canela, vainilla, clavo, sorprendentemente alcachofas y mina de lápiz. Perfecto aroma a cera.Miel. Profunda y compleja. Sensación en boca glicérica, cremosa, láctica. Refrescante paladar con una acidez equilibrada. 1988 fue solo una cosecha regular para Rioja pero muy buena para Cune. Mi favorito.
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85% Tempranillo 10% Mazuela, 5% Garnacha y Graciano. Alc 13%
Light red core lightening towards rim. Remarkably un bricked. Lovely nose of aged Rioja. Nothing overpowering here. Restraint, elegance. Tasted more mature than it looked. To be critical it was perhaps a touch dilute but that only added to the Sense of restraint. Quite Bordeaux like I thought.
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Maturing color. Sexy nose of faded red fruit and perfume. Lovely weight, texture, acidity, fruit, and spiciness. Classic, at peak maturity. Wonderful Rioja.
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10/18/2023 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 94 Points
TWS Rioja tasting (Chelsea Old Town Hall): Now we're talking - strawberry, spice and leather on the nose. Still powerful but it has developed some levity and complexity. A satisfying blend of creaky musty tertiary goodness and primary concentration. Smoothness and lift on the palate. Resolved with chalky tannins and great concentration and length. Lovely.
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12/4/2021 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at Terroir Renaissance. Great development in Magnum. Wet leaves, earthy and tobacco. The fruits are still very much present. Lovely and vibrant.
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10/24/2021 - Torchy wrote: 86 Points
Spain (Home): Very reductive. Nose with fart and some strawberries. Thin taste, with some fruit along the lines of strawberries.Over the top, not optimal bottle.
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7/3/2016 - Avicenne Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Verticale CVNE SAQ 2016
Assez typé traditionnel.
Disque briqué toujours.
Nez sur la tourbe, l'humus. Ça sent le fond de cave humide, mouillée.
Tannins fondus/absents.
Past-peak? Clairement, je ne paierais pas ce prix (199$)
**
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2/9/2015 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 90 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/imperial-1988-gran-reserva.html
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De color cereza intenso de capa media-alta, muy limpio, brillante, oscuro, tapado. Reflejos rojizos y cobrizos, luminoso. Borde estrecho, atejado, con marcada diferencia respecto al menisco.
Un Imperial nada al uso, distinto y cumplidor. Se presenta desinhibido, ancho, cebado de apuntes cremosos y lácteos, manteca de cacao, café tostado, toffee. Sin mesura aunque un tanto lineal y falto de mayor complejidad. Hay una buena cantidad de fruta roja madura desdibujada por especias ahumadas y un fondo endrinado, licoroso, a guindas al marrasquino y una nota dulzona a bollería. No acaba de ir a más.
En boca es mucho más ligero de lo que cabría esperar, enjunto, reposado, redondo, dotado de una acidez que levanta el conjunto. Correcto, agradable, aún marcado por la crianza aunque sin aristas. En general da la impresión de ser menos parco que la cosecha del 90. Está ya templado y se disfruta en plenitud pero difícilmente tenga las mismas posibilidades de desarrollo. Espontáneo, sin reservas, lúdico aunque falto de mayor profundidad. Se vislumbra ya hacia dónde van a ir los tiros en la siguiente década con esta marca legendaria.
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
75% tempranillo, 15% graciano, 10% mazuelo - 13% vol.
- Permanece en depósitos hasta finalizar la fermentación maloláctica antes de ser trasegado para posteriormente criarse en madera. El vino madura durante 36 meses en barricas semi-nuevas de 225 litros, 70% de roble americano y 30% francés. Un mínimo de 36 meses de guarda en los botelleros de los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado a mediados de la década de los 90. Reencorchado cada 20 años.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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6/29/2014 - eboracum Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine does not tick all the boxes conventionally required for a big score but, in terms of distinction and sheer pleasure conveyed, it outshines most which do.
This is a lovely, elegant and harmonious wine. Colour was a limpid but not very deep red with some bricking at the rim. The nose was discreet but with some fine red fruit and restrained flowers mingled with hints of vanilla and tobacco. The palate was medium bodied at most and linear in shape and even lean but provided a perfect vehicle for some lovely bright and decently acid red fruit with a raspberry tinge, fragrant floral aromas, touches of forest floor and a gentle sweetness again mingled with discreet vanilla and tobacco. Tannins were beautifully resolved but left the right support for the finish. I feared at first that the wine might be too self effacing for some delicious lamb but in the event the pairing was perfect. Really excellent.
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3/12/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 93 Points
K&L Wine Merchants Special Rioja Tasting - Cune/Contino (K&L Wine Merchants(Redwood City, CA)): Brick red color with perfumed red fruit, dried tobacco leaf, spice, and pencil lead aromas. On the palate, it medium-bodied and silky smooth and impeccably balanced with dried cherry, and spice flavors. Long finish.
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5/20/2011 - Harley1199 wrote:
Imperial Gran Reserva Vertical Tasting / Cata Vertical Imperial Gran Reserva (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Fermented in concreted. Bordeaux-like colour (brilliant brick). The sort of wine nose I adore. Toffee, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, surprisingly artichokes and pencil lead. Perfect wax aroma. Honey. Profund and complex. Gliceric, creamy, milky mouthfeel. Refreshing palate with a balanced acidity. 1988 was just a fair harvest for Rioja but a very good one for Cune. My WOTN.
Fermentado en hormigón. Color Burdeos (ladrillo brillante). La clase de nariz que adoro. Toffee, canela, vainilla, clavo, sorprendentemente alcachofas y mina de lápiz. Perfecto aroma a cera.Miel. Profunda y compleja. Sensación en boca glicérica, cremosa, láctica. Refrescante paladar con una acidez equilibrada. 1988 fue solo una cosecha regular para Rioja pero muy buena para Cune. Mi favorito.
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2/19/2011 - rayq wrote: 90 Points
85% Tempranillo 10% Mazuela, 5% Garnacha y Graciano.
Alc 13%
Light red core lightening towards rim.
Remarkably un bricked.
Lovely nose of aged Rioja. Nothing overpowering here.
Restraint, elegance. Tasted more mature than it looked.
To be critical it was perhaps a touch dilute but that only added to the
Sense of restraint. Quite Bordeaux like I thought.
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7/4/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Maturing color. Sexy nose of faded red fruit and perfume. Lovely weight, texture, acidity, fruit, and spiciness. Classic, at peak maturity. Wonderful Rioja.
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