by Patchen Markell » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:19 pm
What happens when you want a Spanish red for a simple weeknight meal and the only one you have on hand happens to be a CVNE 1982 Rioja Gran Reserva "Imperial"? You open it, of course. And what a great bottle this turned out to be. The cork was in fine shape, and within a quarter of an hour of first pour the wine had really come to life, showing rich plum, plum-skin and dried cherry fruit that was still fresh at the center, along with a beguiling mix of leather, herbs and sweet spices, and (with time) a bit of gaminess too, with a solid though not obtrusive frame. Over the course of a couple of hours, the wine continued to put on weight, and it softened a little too -- but never enough to become unfocused or flabby. I am out of my depth in this region and with this wine, and I don't know much about the history of this bottle -- but with those caveats, my guess is that other well-stored examples will still have many years to go. A lovely way to start the weekend!
cheers, Patchen
