CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva 2020

Name: CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva 2020
Brand: Serendipity Wines [SEW]
SKU: SF-4-SEW--062926-3
Price: 54.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$54⁹⁹

Imperial is CVNE's crown jewel, made only in strong years from old-vine parcels in three Rioja Alta villages. The name goes back to the 1920s, when the house bottled a special cuvée in the old 'imperial' pint format for the British market. Tempranillo leads, supported by Graciano, Mazuelo, and Garnacha, with roughly two years in a mix of American and French oak before more time resting in bottle. The result is classic, elegant, age-worthy Rioja—structured and savory, built to reward patience. A flagship that earns the title.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

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Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405

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Antonio Galloni

93 points

"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." —Joaquín Hidalgo

Robert Parker

93 points

"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." —Luis Gutiérrez

Wine Spectator

93 points

"A medium-bodied red, with good focus to its notes of ripe black cherry and Damson plum, black tea, incense, paprika and milled pepper. Bright and graceful overall, this harmonious version integrates firm, fine-grained tannins and a stony underpinning that lingers on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2035."

More about CVNE

CVNE – that’s “Compañia Vinicola del Norte de Espańa”, but nobody calls it that, is one of the original seven producers to invent the Rioja wine at the end of the 19th century, when they all set up their bodegas in Haro for easy access to the train. The others include legends like Lopez de Heredia, La Rioja Alta, and Muga. All of these producers, once pioneers, are now conservators of a very special heritage: the production of wine from the Tempranillo grape, grown in calcareous/clay soils, and aging it in vessels produced from (mostly) American oak casks.