C.V.N.E. Imperial Reserva Rioja

C.V.N.E. Imperial Reserva Rioja is a Tempranillo-led Rioja Alta red wine bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring up to 96 points from James Suckling, Imperial Reserva stands as one of the most consistently acclaimed expressions in the Reserva tier of Spanish wine.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Rioja Alta, Spain  |  Reserva  |  Producer: CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España)

Production & Heritage

CVNE — Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España — was founded in 1879 in Haro, the historic heart of Rioja Alta. The Imperial label draws fruit exclusively from estate vineyards in Villalba, Briones, and Torremontalvo, blending 85% Tempranillo with 5% each of Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo. Fermentation takes place in oak vats using proprietary yeasts isolated from the Imperial vineyards themselves — a detail that gives the wine a site-specific fermentation character uncommon among Rioja producers. Following a 20-day maceration, the wine ages for 24 months in a combination of 70% French and 30% American oak barrels before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated blackcurrant and ripe plum before layering in licorice, clove, and hints of Madagascar vanilla. A dusty, mineral-driven undertone emerges with time in the glass, joined by subtle herbal notes from the Graciano and Mazuelo components.

Taste: The entry is dry and intense, with blackberry and black raspberry fruit leading into a mid-palate marked by sappy, resinous oak tones. Rosemary, pine needle, and cedar bark develop through the middle, while the mouthfeel registers as chalky and energetic — structured but never heavy.

Finish: The finish is long and polished, carrying roasted coffee, tar, and a thread of coconut-tinged oak. Fine-grained tannins linger without astringency, sustaining the wine's mineral backbone well after the last sip.

How to Drink Imperial Reserva

Imperial Reserva is best served at 16–18°C (61–64°F) in a large-bowled glass. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes allows the oak and fruit layers to fully integrate. A wine of this structure and complexity rewards patient sipping; its tannin profile softens beautifully with air. For food-forward occasions, it pairs naturally with grilled lamb chops seasoned with rosemary, slow-braised short ribs, or aged Manchego alongside membrillo.

Best For

• Gifting a Spanish wine enthusiast who appreciates traditional Rioja
• Anchoring a dinner party centered on grilled or braised red meats
• Building a cellar with age-worthy Reserva-level Rioja
• Exploring the benchmark style of Rioja Alta Tempranillo

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Imperial Reserva taste like? Imperial Reserva delivers concentrated blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum fruit wrapped in cedar, rosemary, and resinous oak, with a chalky, energetic mouthfeel and a long finish of roasted coffee and tar.

How does Imperial Reserva compare to Muga Reserva? Both are flagship Rioja Alta Reservas built on Tempranillo, but Imperial Reserva uses a higher proportion of French oak (70%) and employs proprietary vineyard-selected yeasts, giving it a more resinous, mineral-driven profile. Muga Reserva tends toward a slightly rounder, fruit-forward character with more prominent American oak influence.

Is Imperial Reserva good for cellaring? Imperial Reserva's firm tannin structure, balanced acidity, and 24-month oak aging give it strong cellaring potential — top vintages can develop gracefully for 10 to 15 years or more from vintage date.

Where is Imperial Reserva made? Imperial Reserva is produced by CVNE at their historic winery in Haro, located in the Rioja Alta sub-region of Rioja, Spain, using fruit from estate vineyards in Villalba, Briones, and Torremontalvo.

What foods pair well with Imperial Reserva? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's herbal, rosemary-inflected oak; slow-braised short ribs mirror its depth and tannin weight; aged Manchego echoes its chalky texture; roasted root vegetables complement its earthy undertones; and chorizo-based stews bridge the wine's spice and fruit components.

What sizes does Imperial Reserva come in? Imperial Reserva is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, with magnums (1.5L) occasionally released for select vintages.

Is Imperial Reserva worth the price? Imperial Reserva positions as a premium Reserva-tier Rioja that regularly earns 93–96 point scores from major critics including James Suckling, Wine Advocate, and Vinous — placing it among the highest-value wines at its level in the region.

Why Imperial Reserva?

What separates Imperial Reserva from the broader Rioja Reserva field is CVNE's use of proprietary yeasts harvested directly from the Imperial vineyard sites — a production step that imprints a distinctive terroir signature before oak aging even begins. The 70/30 French-to-American oak ratio delivers a more refined, cedar-driven profile than many traditionally American-oak-heavy Riojas. With scores reaching 96 points from James Suckling and consistent 94-point marks from both Wine Advocate and Vinous across multiple vintages, Imperial Reserva has earned its reputation as one of the defining benchmarks of the Rioja Alta style — a wine that rewards both immediate drinking and years of cellar patience.