New allocations & latest release from CVNE: 2016 Imperial & 2015 Corona Blanco Gran Reservas

We first offered you CVNE's 2016 Imperial Gran Reserva last autumn and we are very pleased to have secured a limited further allocation, particularly of the large formats.  Alongside the Imperial, we offer a new release from CVNE, the 2015 Corona Blanco Gran Reserva. 

 2015 CVNE Corona Rioja Gran Reserva Blanco

Corona is a revival of a wine with a long history:  First made at the end of the nineteenth century, it is a semi-sweet white wine with a touch of botrytis influence.  Some forgotten barrels of the 1939 vintage were discovered at the winery in the 70s.  The Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez tasted the '39 in 2015 and awarded it 100 points, distinguishing it as the first Spanish white wine to receive a perfect score. 

Inspired by this to revive Corona, CVNE selected Viura grapes from the 2 ha 'Salceda' vineyards, a plot often affected by botrytis due to evening mists.  After fermentation, the wine has around 33g/l of residual sugar (a similar level, for instance, to a 'Moelleux' Vouvray). 

Seven years after the vintage Gutiérrez describes the 2015 Corona as having a mellow quality, with notes of mushroom, spice and perfumed peach fruit.  Like the '39, this will age for many decades and, even on release, it scores 95 points.  Just 1500 bottles were made, so rarity alone may give this long-term investment potential.

2016 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva

"One of the greatest modern gran reservas...98 points."  - James Suckling

CVNE's Imperial Gran Reserva is the epitome of the powerful, full-bodied style for which Rioja is famous.  Only produced in outstanding years, the 2016 release of Imperial is an excellent vintage and scores 98 points from James Suckling.  At just £240 per six bottles in bond, this release offers great value.

CVNE was established in the famous 'Barrio de la Estación' (Station District) of Haro in Rioja Alta in 1879, just a few hundred metres from the bodega of La Rioja Alta.  Short for Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España, the labels for the inaugural vintage were mis-spelt 'CUNE' and the bodega's name has been pronounced 'Coo-nay' ever since.  

Imperial itself was first produced in the 1920s (originally bottled in 'Imperial pint' sized bottles, hence the name) and is made from the CVNE's best plots in the Rioja Alta, at 550-650m altitude.  The blend for the 2016 is 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, from 40 year-old, low-yielding bush-trained vines on clay soils. 

2016 was a late harvest, following a dry summer, giving very high levels of phenolic (flavour) ripeness.  With a full 24 months in French and American oak barrels and 36 months in bottle, the power is balanced by precise, defined fruit and mineral notes. 

After six years of maturation, the Gran Reserva is developing in a lovely, classical direction, with the vanilla-scented American oak aromas integrating beautifully with the fruit.  Despite obvious power, there's all the balance of refinement we have seen elsewhere in this vintage.  This is certainly one of our favourite releases of this wine.  

Please simply e-mail us if you would like to order either wine.

Offered pre-landing, expected March 2023.