A very structured and gorgeous Rioja with blackberry, cherry, cedar and spice aromas and flavors. Hints of toasted oak underneath. Granite, too. Medium-bodied, yet the structure builds on the palate, giving superb length and power. Give it three to five years to come together, and beyond.

The 2017 Imperial Gran Reserva is open and ready for business. Perfumed and enticing with aromas of dried herbs and warming nutmeg spice, cocoa-dusted red cherries, and orange rind. Juicy, refreshing acidity brings purpose and energy on the palate, with firmly structured, small-grained tannins supporting a concentrated core of ripe red cherry and raspberry fruit. Long and fruit-driven finish with a twist of ferrous savouriness. Approachable now and more accessible at this early stage than the 2016, but with the structure and depth of flavour to promise decades of longevity. Drinking Window: 2023-2060.