Imperial Rioja Reserva 2020 vs Iona Pinot Noir 2023
Compare current tracked prices, stockists and core specifications.
| Availability | In stock | In stock |
|---|---|---|
| Best current price | £28.99 | £28.99 |
| Current stockists | 1 merchant | 1 merchant |
| Producer | Imperial Rioja | Iona |
| Style | Red | Red |
| Grape | Tempranillo | Pinot Noir |
| Region | Rioja | — |
| Size | 750ml | 750ml |
| Where to buy |
Imperial Rioja Reserva 2020
CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva is a classic, award-winning Rioja that showcases traditional winemaking at its finest. Crafted from a selection of the best grapes from CVNE's Rioja Alta vineyards around Villalba, Briones, and Torremontalbo, this wine combines red fruits and vanilla oak with a supple, silky palate, offering exceptional quality and excellent ageing potential. Why You'll Love It This is traditional Rioja Reserva done right — elegant, balanced, and beautifully crafted with two years in French and American oak followed by two years in bottle before release. Produced by CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España), one of Spain's most respected producers, Imperial has won many awards over the years and represents outstanding quality. The wine will evolve and develop well in the bottle for years to come, making it exceptional value for a traditionally crafted Rioja Reserva. Vineyard and Production Sourced from CVNE's best vineyards around Villalba, Briones, and Torremontalbo in Rioja Alta, with vines over 40 years old. Grapes are hand-harvested into 20kg crates after meticulous monitoring, placed in a cold room for 24 hours, then sorted on a table before gravity transfer to large oak vats for alcoholic fermentation. The wine is aged for two years in French and American oak barrels, followed by two years in bottle in CVNE's centenary cellars before release. Tasting Notes Traditional in style with a nose of red fruits and vanilla oak. The palate is supple and silky with warm red fruits and a touch of spicy vanilla oak. Medium to full-bodied with excellent balance and a long, satisfying finish. Perfect Pairings A versatile wine perfect with grilled and roasted red meats, pizza, pasta, casseroles, stews, mild creamy cheeses or mature hard cheese. Also excellent with lamb, chorizo or traditional Spanish cuisine. Grape Variety Tempranillo
Iona Pinot Noir 2023
Nestled at 420 m above sea level in the cool-climate Elgin Valley, Iona Winery produces some of South Africa’s finest Pinot Noir. Founded by Andrew Gunn, the estate benefits from a long growing season and ideal conditions for cool-climate viticulture, resulting in wines that are elegant, complex, and expressive of their terroir. Organic and biodynamic principles guide the vineyard management, ensuring healthy soils, minimal intervention, and natural pest control with a resident flock of geese. Iona Pinot Noir has gained recognition for its refined structure, vibrant acidity, and age-worthy potential, making it a standout among premium South African wines. Viticulture Iona employs organic practices across its vineyards, with minimal intervention during the growing season. Grapes are hand-harvested to ensure only the best fruit is selected for the wines. Winemaking Grapes are hand-harvested into small crates and spent overnight in a cold room. Extensive hand sorting is carried out prior to destemming, which is performed without crushing. The grapes undergo a cold soak for 5–7 days before natural fermentation in open-top fermenters. Gentle punch downs and pump overs are performed twice daily as required, with fermentation temperatures peaking at 28°C. The wine is then transferred to 300 L French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation occurs (20% new oak, remainder in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fill). Maturation lasts 15 months on the lees. Following barrel ageing, wines from Kroon and Beeskamp vineyards are blended 50/50 in stainless steel tanks and clarified naturally for two months before bottling. Tasting Note The wine is perfumed with a floral nose of rose petals, black and red cherries, strawberries, and subtle spice. On the palate it is textured, succulent, and complex, with vibrant acidity and fine-grained, chalky tannins, culminating in a long, savoury finish. A classic, focused Pinot Noir with excellent ageing potential. Food Matching Pairs beautifully with Beef Bo
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