2010 CVNE (Cune) Imperial Gran Reserva Magnum Rioja Spain (1.5 L) Magnum

How to Best a 97pt Gran Reserva Rioja? Get it in MAGNUMS. 

Our Master Sommelier Sur Lucero is a notoriously discerning wine professional. So when he returned from Spain—where he visited dozens of estates and tasted hundreds of wines—and the very first thing he mentioned was that he had secured the 2010 CVNE (Cune) Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja, we knew it had to be a hit. 

We aren’t the only ones raving about this wine. The 2010 Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja exudes “elevated excellence” according to Wine Enthusiast, where it earned 95 points, an “Editors’ Choice” honor, and landed at #44 on their list of Top 100 Wines of 2017. Tim Atkin MW went two better with 97 points, and Wine Advocate gave it 94 points, calling it a “classic among classics.” This is a rich and regal red from a stellar vintage—a classic Rioja Gran Reserva that shows rich plum, herbs, coffee, and beautifully integrated oak notes. Whether you are chomping at the bit to crack it with a table full of friends or seeking a bedrock bottling upon which to build your cellar, you simply can’t go wrong.

CVNE’s exalted status among Wine Access clients reflects how it is regarded in its home region: as one of a handful of legendary producers whose wines have done nothing less than set the standards and shaped the traditions of Rioja. CVNE has been an especially worthy worldwide ambassador for Spanish wine, and when Wine Spectator selected Cune’s 2004 Imperial Gran Reserva as their #1 wine of the year, it was the first Spanish wine to be so honored. That accolade put a brand-new sheen on a winery that has been producing top-quality Rioja since 1879.

CVNE began producing the Imperial Gran Reserva in the 1920s. It is named for the imperial pint-sized bottles being exported to the United Kingdom. For the Gran Reserva, the best hand-picked grapes from 20-year-old vines in Rioja Alta are meticulously sorted, cold-macerated, and cold-fermented. The wine then ages for a patient 36 months in American and French oak casks, before resting another 48 months in bottle. The result is the regal red wine—a gorgeous example of the Rioja Gran Reserva from a stellar vintage—that we’ve been looking forward to offering to Wine Access friends for months. Although our anticipation has been long, our allocation is small—and this offer’s time will likely be very short. Don’t delay.