{"product_id":"1986-cune-imperial-rioja-gran-reserva","title":"1986 CVNE, \"Imperial\" Rioja Gran Reserva","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou simply can’t talk about great Rioja without including CVNE.\u003c\/strong\u003e Founded in Haro in 1879, this historic estate is one of Rioja’s foundational producers, and its \u003cstrong\u003eImperial\u003c\/strong\u003e bottling has been part of the region’s story for generations. Produced only in exceptional vintages, Imperial has become one of the benchmark wines of traditional Rioja—a wine defined not by immediate power or flashy fruit, but by patience, precision, and the extraordinary transformation that takes place with time.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1986 vintage\u003c\/strong\u003e now sits at nearly four decades of age, entering precisely the stage that makes old Imperial so compelling. The youthful fruit has evolved into layers of \u003cstrong\u003eblackberry, blackcurrant, dried cherry, licorice, cedar, leather, tobacco, forest floor, spice, and subtle balsamic notes\u003c\/strong\u003e. With air, more nuanced aromas of vanilla, dried herbs, and earth begin to emerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, the wine retains the \u003cstrong\u003estructure and authority\u003c\/strong\u003e that define Imperial, but decades of bottle age have softened its tannins and beautifully integrated the oak. Dark fruit and licorice provide depth, while lively acidity keeps the wine fresh and focused. The finish is long, savory, and remarkably persistent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the \u003cstrong\u003e1986 Imperial\u003c\/strong\u003e particularly exciting is its balance of \u003cstrong\u003epower and maturity\u003c\/strong\u003e. This isn't simply an old Rioja that has faded into delicate tertiary notes. There is still substance and energy beneath the leather, cedar, earth, and spice—a reminder of the structured wine that went into the bottle nearly forty years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is \u003cstrong\u003eclassic library Rioja from one of Spain’s benchmark producers\u003c\/strong\u003e, offering collectors the chance to experience Imperial as it was intended: slowly evolved, beautifully integrated, and deeply expressive of its place and tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You’ll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn iconic Rioja house:\u003c\/strong\u003e CVNE has been making wine in Haro since \u003cstrong\u003e1879\u003c\/strong\u003e, and Imperial is one of its defining wines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExceptional 1986 vintage:\u003c\/strong\u003e A nearly four-decade-old Gran Reserva with remarkable depth and maturity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClassic Imperial character:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, cedar, leather, tobacco, forest floor, and spice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower meets elegance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mature tannins and vibrant acidity keep this aged Rioja energetic and focused.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecades of bottle evolution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oak, fruit, and tertiary character have come together into a seamless, complex whole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistoric library wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e A genuine piece of Rioja history for collectors of traditionally made Spanish wine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA benchmark Gran Reserva:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the classic bottles to seek out when exploring serious, age-worthy Rioja.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow To Serve It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStand upright:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep the bottle upright for \u003cstrong\u003e24–48 hours before opening\u003c\/strong\u003e to allow sediment to settle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOpen carefully:\u003c\/strong\u003e We highly recommend an \u003cstrong\u003eAh-So two-prong opener or Durand\u003c\/strong\u003e for the mature cork.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecant gently:\u003c\/strong\u003e Decant for approximately \u003cstrong\u003e15–30 minutes\u003c\/strong\u003e, primarily to separate sediment rather than aggressively aerate the wine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eServe cool:\u003c\/strong\u003e Serve at approximately \u003cstrong\u003e60–64°F\u003c\/strong\u003e in a large Burgundy or all-purpose wine glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLet it evolve:\u003c\/strong\u003e Give the wine time in the glass to reveal its layers of fruit, leather, cedar, earth, and spice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePair with:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRoast lamb, braised beef, wild mushrooms, Jamón Ibérico, aged Manchego, or other richly savory Spanish dishes.\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrink now:\u003c\/strong\u003e The wine is beautifully mature and ready to enjoy, with its tertiary complexity fully on display.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe highly recommend opening these aged rarities with an Ah-So (two-prong opener) or Durand corkscrew.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47116985663542,"sku":"SOMM2608-CUNE86IMPGR-750","price":309.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/1986Cune_ImperialRiojaGranReserva_1.png?v=1786467974","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/products\/1986-cune-imperial-rioja-gran-reserva","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}