Gramona Imperial Gran Reserva Brut 2018
HK$ 327.42
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Brut Imperial, from a cooler and wetter year, was produced with 56% Xarel.lo, 30% Macabeo, 10% Parellada and 4% Chardonnay from purchased biodynamic grapes that matured in bottle for 64 months. It was adjusted to six grams of sugar (lower). It was a cooler year with more rain (some mildew) and fresher and younger wines. It has a fine-boned palate, with some residual sugar. The first vintage of Imperial certified by Demeter was 2016. 600,000 bottles produced.
Features
Type of wine
Style
Occasions
Appellation
Alcohol
12.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 6ºC and 8ºC
Winemaking
Aged for 3 to 4 years in bottle.
Description
In the heart of the Penedès region, where the land breathes limestone and clay under a Mediterranean climate of mild winters and sun-drenched summers, the Gramona family has spent generations shaping the most precise expression of time: the long-aged sparkling wine. The history of Gramona Imperial was born from a clear and firm vision: to demonstrate that the Catalan sparkling wine could look Champagne in the eye, not from imitation, but from its own identity.
The estate is certified biodynamic -a decision taken not by trend, but by conviction-, and was one of the first big names in the Penedès to apply this type of regenerative viticulture. One day, in the middle of the harvest, Jaume Gramona decided to stop the entire harvest when the wind suddenly changed. "The fruit rules, not the calendar", he said. This almost mystical sensibility for the grape continues to guide each vintage of Gramona Imperial.
The base of Gramona Imperial is built from the classic Penedès grapes - Xarel.lo, Macabeo and Parellada -with a small touch of Chardonnay, adding structure, freshness and elegance. They come from our own vineyards at medium altitude, where the cool climate allows for slow ripening, and the chalky soil confers a precise and serene minerality. This wine is protected under the Corpinnat brand, a category reserved for great sparkling wines with long ageing and traceable origin.
Winemaking
The winemaking process of Gramona Imperial is almost surgical. The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected in the vineyard and on the table. After a gentle pressing, each variety is fermented separately at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks that respect varietal purity. There are no unnecessary additives or artifices. The base wine rests for a few months on its lees before tirage.
The second fermentation takes place in the bottle, under natural cork - a rarity even among the great sparkling wines - and the wine ages for a minimum of 60 months on its fine lees, developing complexity, depth and an enveloping creaminess. Disgorgement is carried out manually, without freezing the neck of the bottle, and the liqueur d'expedition, with about 7 grams per litre of residual sugar (Brut), acts as a delicate counterpoint that balances the wine's tension without detracting from its freshness or authenticity.
Taste
From the first bubble, Gramona Imperial reveals itself to be sober, classic and profoundly Catalan. On the nose, it displays a noble range: baked apple, toasted brioche, raw almond, candied citrus peel. Time on the lees gives it a subtle pastry patina, without ever becoming heavy. The bubbles are fine, persistent, with a satiny texture.
On the palate, it moves with architectural elegance: dry entry, ample but slender body, a backbone of sharp acidity and chalky salinity. Echoes of fennel, fresh butter and almond blossom appear. This is a Cava that speaks softly but with authority, one of those that demand attention without raising its voice.
The finish is long, creamy, with hints of toasted hazelnut, dried lemon and chalk. A wine for those who appreciate sparkling wine as a slow art form. Its precision, balance and character make it a modern classic, perfect with everything from oysters to roast poultry, but also capable of sustaining a conversation without the need for food.
Shipping to Hong Kong
Estimated transit time: 3 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Complete box |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 6 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 7-11 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 12 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 13-17 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 18 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 19-23 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 24 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 25-29 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 30 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 31-35 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 36 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 37-41 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 42 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 43-47 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 48 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 49-53 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 54 bottles, Free shipping! |
| 55-59 bottles | HK$ 134.48 | 60 bottles, Free shipping! |
