FINCA LA EMPERATRIZ "Reserva" - Rioja
FINCA LA EMPERATRIZ -Rioja Reserva, Spain
Intense ruby colour. Black fruit, liquorice and black pepper aromas over a spicy, balsamic (vanilla and cedar) background. It is a serious, slightly austere wine that nevertheless manages to be harmonious with good freshness, well-integrated oak and round tannins.
Vintage in image may vary. Refer to wine facts for current vintage.
Vintage in image may vary. Refer to wine facts for current vintage.
Product Description
Description
Intense ruby colour. Black fruit, liquorice and black pepper aromas over a spicy, balsamic (vanilla and cedar) background. It is a serious, slightly austere wine that nevertheless manages to be harmonious with good freshness, well-integrated oak and round tannins. This wine will have a good evolution in bottle.
Vintage in image may vary. Refer to wine facts for current vintage.
Accolades
Awards
Critique Review
The classical 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Reserva was cropped from a challenging vintage, where vineyard work made all the difference. It is a blend of Tempranillo with 3% Garnacha, 2% Viura and 1% Graciano fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and a short maceration. It matured in 70% American and 30% French oak barrels for 22 months. It was my favorite from the selection I tasted. I found it serious, balanced and nicely integrated, with the oak neatly folded into the fruit, subtle and elegant. It's medium-bodied with good freshness and very fine tannins. 42,000 bottles and 985 magnums were filled in July 2016.
Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate, 28/02/2018Wine Facts
Product Type | Red Wine |
---|---|
Vintage | 2018 |
Region | Rioja Reserva |
Country | SPAIN |
Winemakers | Eduardo Hernaiz |
Producer | Vinedos Hermanos Hernaiz |
Average age of vines | 65-year-old bush vines |
Production method | 5,000 kg/ha |
Harvest method | Hand-picked in the first week of October. |
Fermentation & maceration | The grapes are selected in the vineyard and then are given a cold soak for 3 days in stainless steel, followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature for 6 days with a gentle pumpover to extract colour and tannins and a further two weeks of post-fermentative skin contact. |
Aging | Aged in 70% American oak and 30% French oak barrel. |
Alcohol | 14.00% |
Mouth Attribute | Complex, Floral, Medium Length, Rich |
SKU | SP78 |
Vineyard Info
Finca La Emperatrz is a Single Estate of 102 Ha divided in 22 plots and located in Banos de Rioja (Rioja Alta) at 570 meters above sea level, between the hills "Sierra Cantabria" and "Sierra de la Demanda". Impressive terroir with a layer of large white pebbles to a depth of about 40cm, covering a loose, sandy sub-soil. This is an ideal soil to grow vines as it has excellent drainage, plenty of light and the roots are well placed to receive all the nutrients they require. The wines produced from this type of soil are fine and elegant.
Eugenie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III and Empress of France was the first owner of this Estate in the 19th century. In 1996, the Hernaiz family acquired this property and the brothers Eduardo and Victor started to produce quality wines. The winery produces its entire range exclusively from its own grapes. Some of the wines are made with grapes from different plots and others from a single plot with very limited production.
Reviews & Ratings
Description
Intense ruby colour. Black fruit, liquorice and black pepper aromas over a spicy, balsamic (vanilla and cedar) background. It is a serious, slightly austere wine that nevertheless manages to be harmonious with good freshness, well-integrated oak and round tannins. This wine will have a good evolution in bottle.
Vintage in image may vary. Refer to wine facts for current vintage.
Awards
Critique Review
The classical 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Reserva was cropped from a challenging vintage, where vineyard work made all the difference. It is a blend of Tempranillo with 3% Garnacha, 2% Viura and 1% Graciano fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and a short maceration. It matured in 70% American and 30% French oak barrels for 22 months. It was my favorite from the selection I tasted. I found it serious, balanced and nicely integrated, with the oak neatly folded into the fruit, subtle and elegant. It's medium-bodied with good freshness and very fine tannins. 42,000 bottles and 985 magnums were filled in July 2016.
Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate, 28/02/2018Product Type | Red Wine |
---|---|
Vintage | 2018 |
Region | Rioja Reserva |
Country | SPAIN |
Winemakers | Eduardo Hernaiz |
Producer | Vinedos Hermanos Hernaiz |
Average age of vines | 65-year-old bush vines |
Production method | 5,000 kg/ha |
Harvest method | Hand-picked in the first week of October. |
Fermentation & maceration | The grapes are selected in the vineyard and then are given a cold soak for 3 days in stainless steel, followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature for 6 days with a gentle pumpover to extract colour and tannins and a further two weeks of post-fermentative skin contact. |
Aging | Aged in 70% American oak and 30% French oak barrel. |
Alcohol | 14.00% |
Mouth Attribute | Complex, Floral, Medium Length, Rich |
SKU | SP78 |
Finca La Emperatrz is a Single Estate of 102 Ha divided in 22 plots and located in Banos de Rioja (Rioja Alta) at 570 meters above sea level, between the hills "Sierra Cantabria" and "Sierra de la Demanda". Impressive terroir with a layer of large white pebbles to a depth of about 40cm, covering a loose, sandy sub-soil. This is an ideal soil to grow vines as it has excellent drainage, plenty of light and the roots are well placed to receive all the nutrients they require. The wines produced from this type of soil are fine and elegant.
Eugenie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III and Empress of France was the first owner of this Estate in the 19th century. In 1996, the Hernaiz family acquired this property and the brothers Eduardo and Victor started to produce quality wines. The winery produces its entire range exclusively from its own grapes. Some of the wines are made with grapes from different plots and others from a single plot with very limited production.