eRobertParker.com # 189 - Jun 2010 - Imperial Gran Reserva 1999 - 94 - Drink 2010-2018 
The 1999 Imperial Gran Reserva from a good vintage has a very expressive nose of Asian spices, balsamic, violets, and assorted black fruits. Elegant on the palate, it is a wine of finesse in combination with intense flavors and a lengthy, pure, silky finish. It will drink well for another 6-8 years.

Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.) is known colloquially to most Spanish wine drinkers as Cune. The company was founded in 1879 by the Real de Asua brothers and still remains in control of their direct descendants. In the 1920s ownership started Vina Real and in 2004 a new winery was built in Laguardia. In 1973 Contino was created to further the concept of the single estate winery and has since been one of the principal leaders in the resurrection of the nearly extinct Graciano grape. The Contino wines are made exclusively from the estates 253 acres located in Laserna near the town of Laguardia.

Wine Enthusiast - February 2012 - CVNE 1999 Imperial Gran Reserva (Rioja) - 94 pointsTextbook Rioja gran reserva in every way. It’s light and smoky smellings with brown sugar, fine cologne and cedary aromas. Generous but well-cut in the mouth, with fig, mushroom, raspberry and spiced plum flavors. Fresh on the finish, with light herb flavors and good weight. Drink now through 2018. Europvin. Editor’s Choice.- M.S.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - Sep/Oct 10 - Imperial Gran Reserva 1999 - 92 points  ($63; 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano and 5% mazuelo) Deep red. Blackberry, cherry and licorice on the nose, plus a strong note of smoky oak. Densely packed and very sweet on entry, then juicy and focused in the midpalate, with lush dark fruit liqueur and oak spice flavors firmed by a mineral spine. This still-youthful wine gains flesh and volume with air and finishes with silky tannins and resonating oakiness. Built for the long haul but should also show well now with enough aeration.