2007 Cune "Imperial" Gran Reserva Rioja

2007 is a great, classic vintage of Imperial Gran Reserva in the making, and, not surprisingly, the wine is absolutely stunning in its youth. This is a touch more reserved out of the blocks than the Viña Real Gran Reserva from this vintage, not to mention the seemingly riper ’07 Imperial Reserva, as it wafts from the glass in a nascently complex blend of black cherries, dark berries, a touch of nutskin, cigar wrapper, a lovely base of complex soil tones, toasted coconut and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and already very velvety on the attack, with a superb core of fruit, beautiful transparency down to the soil, ripe, suave tannins and simply great length and grip on the very pure and promising finish. This is a legend in the making. Drink between 2019-2075. (12/2014)

The 2007 Imperial Gran Reserva is again a great wine in the making. Red fruit and plenty of spices (nutmeg), the palate shows great acidity and abundant tannins that need resolving with time in bottle. Great tension and nerve. I think it will take some time to be released, which is good as it will require some patience. (LG) 93+ (12/2013)

Brilliant ruby-red. Complex, highly perfumed scents of red fruit preserves, vanilla, woodsmoke and sandalwood, with a sexy floral quality in the background. Quite concentrated for the vintage, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors firmed by a spine of minerality. Closes smooth, broad and spicy, with outstanding focus and fine-grained tannins. While one could enjoy this wine immensely right now, my guess is that it has at least a good decade-plus of life ahead of it. (JR) (9/2014)

Exotic, smoky aromas of blue fruits and Middle Eastern spices are proprietary to this wine. The mouthfeel is juicy but also earthy, while flavors of tobacco, mint, herbs and plum finish mellow and elegant. (MS) (11/2014)

This fleshy red offers blackberry, black chocolate and toasty flavors, with savory accents of black olive and tobacco. Chewy tannins and orange peel acidity provide structure. Rich for the vintage. (TM) (9/2014)

Imperial is Cune's most traditional, highly regarded and ageworthy line of wines. Given the winery's #1 Wine Spectator wine of the year nod for their 2004 Imperial Gran Reserva, there is obviously some more attention being given to this traditional, old guard Rioja bodega. Produced from their best vineyard parcels in Rioja Alta, it is typically from a blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano. It is then aged in a combination of French and American barrels, clarified with egg whites and aged for an additional time in bottle. This is a classic wine--all the more so in the cooler, more Atlantic 2007 vintage.