CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 (JS 97)

James Suckling 97 points.


Cune Imperial Grand Reserva is considered by some as one of the great wines of Spain. Its 2014 vintage was selected by the prestigious magazine the WineSpectator as the best wine in the world.

It is a blend made from Tempranillo as the main variety with a small percentage of Mazuelo and Graciano. The grapes come from old vines planted 45 years ago in the town of Villalba. The harvest is done manually, a first selection of grapes is carried out, and they are transferred to the winery in small boxes that help keep the grapes in perfect condition.

Once in the winery, the grapes are cooled and passed to a sorting table where only the best bunches are selected. The grapes are macerated cold before undergoing a controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, at the end of another long post-fermentation, maceration is performed.

Cune Imperial Gran Reserva undergoes a 22-month aging in barrels of French and American oak, during that time, rackings are applied every 4 months.

After the aging, it is clarified and bottled and is aged in the bottle in the cellar before hitting the market.

Cune Imperial Gran Reserva is a classic Rioja wine. Fine, elegant, balanced and rounded, a great job.

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