Rioja, SpainCompañía Vinicola del Norte de España is better known as Bodegas C.V.N.E. (pronounced Cunay), and is still owned and operated by the Real de Asua family, who founded the winery in 1879. Imperial is only made in the best years. Classic and traditional this wine certainly is, with tempranillo (along with 10% graciano and 5% mazuelo) coming from the estate's oldest vineyards, presenting in that aristocratic, reserved Rioja way. After a cold maceration, this ferments in French oak vats, after which the wine spends two years in oak casks before a minimum of 3 years bottle aging prior to release. The beauty in these wines is that the aging is all done for you; the wine is ready for enjoyable drinking immediately upon release, though will continue for a couple of years in your cellar. Layers of leather, anise, worn paper, dried cherry, tobacco leaf, graphite, subtle cigar smoke wrap around a ripe, plump core. This is a structural wine, but one worn with nine years aging, leaving tannins strident, yet softened, gently supporting the purple fruit to a typically bitter Italian finish.Tasted: 29 March 2020Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$88.99
750ml
BCLS
Producer: Compañía Vitivinícola del Norte de Espana (CVNE)Distributors: Pacific Wine & Spirits Inc. Blend: Tempranillo - Graciano - MazueloCSPC: 1312222UPC: 8410591002178
Rioja, SpainImperial is a unique brand from the historic Rioja estate of CVNE, the Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España. They only make Reserva and Gran Reserva wines and boy, do they age magnificently. The 2011 edition is a complete wine that is still showing a lot of youth. The nose is beautifully perfumed with fresh and dried cherries, a sweet herbal and balsamic fragrance, and a hint of game and leather. The palate is loaded with plummy rich flavours, chocolate, rose hip syrup and a smoky cast-iron character. The flavours show more evolution than the nose suggests, with lovely mellow elegance and vinous, silky texture. The tannins are quite firm and grippy, but so fine-grained that they melt effortlessly into the dusty fruit. There are years of development ahead for this wine, and while it is lovely to taste now, it will reward patience. When you do open it, serve with an ultra-prime cut of beef or savour it alongside some fine aged Manchego cheese.Tasted: 23 May 2019Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$88.99
750ml
BCLS
Producer: Compañía Vitivinícola del Norte de Espana (CVNE)Distributors: Pacific Wine & Spirits Inc. Blend: Tempranillo - Graciano - MazueloCSPC: 1312222UPC: 8410591002178
Rioja, SpainImperial GR always grabs your attention, but in 2011 it gets a boost from warm weather and heat stressed fruit that offers a little less acidity to the mix in exchange for a bit more power and mid-palate richness. Like 2010, the density, weight, and texture are wonderfully balanced, adding a sense of elegance to a red you can drink now or cellar for a decade and beyond. Bodegas C.V.N.E. is still owned and run by the Real de Asua family, who opened the doors back in 1879. Its full name is Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España, but everyone calls it ‘coonay’ reference to its famous initials: C.V.N.E. The name is an ode to a special bottling for the English in a measure the Spanish called ‘Pinta Imperial’ or ‘Imperial Pint,’ approximately half a litre.Tasted: 27 March 2019Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$88.99
750ml
BCLS
Producer: Compañía Vitivinícola del Norte de Espana (CVNE)Distributors: Pacific Wine & Spirits Inc. Blend: Tempranillo - Graciano - MazueloCSPC: 1312222UPC: 8410591002178
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