CVNE : Imperial Reserva 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for Imperial Reserva 2020 by CVNE

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays an intense garnet color with bright reddish highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity with notes of wild red berries, notably blackberries and raspberries. Aromas of licorice and sweet spices blend harmoniously with subtle balsamic and cocoa touches.

Palate

On the palate, the wine charms with its silky, elegant mouthfeel. Fine, velvety tannins bring structure and refinement without overpowering. The finish lingers with persistence, allowing fruity notes to shine through, supported by a pleasant freshness.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, traditional Spanish stews, and game dishes. It also elegantly complements aged cheeses, notably Manchego. Imperial Reserva 2020 can also be enjoyed on its own, allowing you to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve Imperial Reserva 2020 at a temperature of 18°C to reveal its full aromatic palette.

The balance and elegance of an exceptional Rioja Alta

The estate

Founded in 1879 in Haro by the brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, along with oenologist Isidro Corcuera del Campo, CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) remains one of Spain’s most prestigious producers. A family-owned estate for five generations, the house is now led by Victor Urrutia Ybarra and his sister María, representing the fifth generation of the Urrutia family. With around one thousand hectares of vineyards spread across Spain’s greatest wine regions and eight distinct estates, CVNE stands out as the largest vineyard owner in Spain. The house has been recognized as one of the most admired wine brands in the world, ranking seventeenth in 2025.

The vineyard

The grapes for Imperial Reserva 2020 come exclusively from three villages in Rioja Alta: Villalba, Torremontalbo, and Briones. In Villalba, the Remedio and Encinas plots lie between 550 and 650 meters in altitude, near the Sierra de Toloño. In Torremontalbo, the San Quilez and Pico de Aguila vineyards are located at 450 meters above sea level. Finally, in Briones, the estate plot completes this blend of terroirs. All the vines are over forty years old and are grown on clay-limestone soils with low organic matter. Trained as bush vines and mainly south-facing, they produce deliberately limited yields of around 4,000 kilograms per hectare.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Rioja Alta began with a rainy winter and early spring, followed by a hot summer with temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C from mid-July to late August. Rain in September provided welcome hydration for the vines. The harvest for the grapes destined for Imperial took place from October 8 to 16, under favorable conditions that made it possible to obtain grapes at optimal ripeness with a good balance between concentration and freshness. This vintage was rated "Excellent" by CVNE, justifying the production of Imperial Reserva.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest, carried out by hand, is immediately placed in refrigerated trucks. After meticulous sorting, the grapes are moved by gravity into large oak vats for alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maceration lasts around twenty days, with pump-overs adjusted to the evolution of each vat. Malolactic fermentation takes place in concrete and wooden vats. Imperial Reserva 2020 is then aged for twenty-four months in American and French oak barrels (around 30% American and 70% French), new or first-fill. Each plot is aged separately before the final blend. After fining, the wine ages for at least twelve months in bottle before release.

Grape varieties

Tempranillo (around 85%), complemented by graciano, mazuelo, and garnacha.