Producer: Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.)
Region: Rioja, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo 
Year: 1966 

John Gilman, 

"The 1966 vintage in Rioja is a good, but not a great year, and this is reflected in the rather moderate ripeness level of 12.6 percent alcohol of the ’66 Imperial Gran Reserva. Consequently, the wine is just a touch austere in personality, even at age forty-seven, but I very much like this wine for its impressive aromatic and flavor complexity and its classic Imperial refinement. The bouquet is pure and classy, offering up scents of dark berries, a touch of raspberry, tobacco, gentle meatiness, spices, discreet notes of nutskin and a bit of spicy wood. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and just a touch angular, but with a very good core, fine soil signature, tangy acids and good, but not great length and grip on the complex finish. This is not one of the legendary old vintages of Imperial Gran Reserva, but the wine is still very lovely and a far cry from a disappointment." 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.