Imperial, Reserva Rioja Red

Dark ruby. Cherry-vanilla and raspberry aromas boast good clarity and develop a peppery nuance with air. Crisp and light on its feet, with tangy cherry and redcurrant fruit flavors dusted with fine-grained tannins. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of vanilla and very good cut and length.

Winery: Imperial
Appellation: Rioja
Average age of vines: 40 years old
Farming Methods: Conventional
Maturation: Aged for 24 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels
Soil: Rich in iron salts, limestone and clay
Varietal: Tempranillo blend
Vineyard Orientation: Northern
Vineyard Size: 28 hectares

Wine	Scores	Downloads	Reviews
Imperial, Reserva Rioja Red 2019	95 James Suckling A precise, layered nose that shows excellent purity despite some sweet oak spices. More berry fruit comes out as you give it some time in the glass. Plums, cherries, red berries with dark mushrooms, cured meat, grilled spices, stones, vanilla and iodine. Juicy, spiced berries quickly tighten up on the medium- to full-bodied palate with dusty, powerful tannins, allowing it to expand into the finish. It grows on the palate and the creaminess is already chiselled. This will age beautifully in the next 10-15 years. Drinkable now, but better from 2026. 94 Wine Advocate The 2019 Imperial Reserva was cropped from a very healthy year with good ripeness and balance, a powerful vintage with a 185-day vegetative cycle. They look for finesse, precision and power, a blend of Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha put through optical sorting and fermented in oak vats with yeasts selected from the Imperial vineyards and a 20-day maceration, then it matured in barrels, 70% French and the rest American, for 24 months. It has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.61. It feels very classical, with finesse and power, balanced and serious. It has tannins that call for food. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2022. 91 Wine Spectator A sculpted red, with ripe red cherry and currant fruit accented by briary herb, spice and floral notes. Reveals a plush quality to the texture without imparting too much weight, while a minerally underpinning pushes through to drive the lasting finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2029. 12,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Imperial, Reserva Rioja Red 2020	94 James Suckling A tight, structured Rioja with blackcurrants, sandalwood, coffee and cassis on the nose, followed by a chewy, toasty and medium- to full-bodied palate. Firm, dusty tannins. Compact. Better after 2026. 93 Vinous The 2020 Reserva Imperial is 85% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from estate vineyards in Torremontalbo and Villalba, Rioja Alta. Aged 24 months in 30% American and 70% French oak barrels, red fruit like sweet and sour cherry define the aromatic profile, with restrained oak on the finish. Balanced, with a gentle chalky texture and medium freshness, this is a long-lasting, harmonious, classic Rioja. 93+ Wine Advocate The 2020 Imperial Reserva was produced with a blend of Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha grapes that were put through optical sorting and fermented in oak vats by vineyard, and the wine matured for 24 months in barrels, 70% French and the rest American. It has a shy nose that takes time to open up in the glass, but it is surprisingly harmonious and balanced and fresh for the year. It has a little more ripeness, but there’s no excess at all; it has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.44 grams of acidity. It has notes of spices, cigar box and ash, berries and wild herbs and a sleek and polished palate with resolved tannins. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2023.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker