Description

Started in 1970 with the backing of an industry bank and a lot of local knowledge El Coto took 5 years to release their first Rioja but haven’t looked back since.

What do you show after you’ve tasted nine great wines from the 2010 Bordeaux vintage? An old Rioja of course. These wines are almost timeless and certain can stand up to a long stint in a good cellar. Reminiscent of rose in colour, you can see right through this wine. It smells of sweet herbs, earth and strawberries. The palate is silky, dry and savoury. It is so wonderful and the wine built a level of complexity in the glass. While the classic saying goes ‘there is no great old wines, only great old bottles’ the quality of this bottle is such that it is worth a punt on a few others. The only downside is there is no recourse for refund if the wine is faulty.

Tempranillo

Top quality grape grown all over the Iberian Peninsula (with many pseudonyms). It is used to make Rosado (rose), lighter Joven wines all the way up to Gran Reserva wine which are ages for 5 years in the winery before release. Great Tempranillo ages very well and often can compare to Burgundy in flavour and texture. It is an aromatic red grape that has low acid and skins of moderate thickness. Typical descriptors of Tempranillo include cherry, cola and rose petals with a silky texture and soft fruit tannins.

D.O Rioja

A large and varied region and Spain’s quality flagship. Sub-regions Alta and Alavesa are the high altitude cooler parts that show elegant and almost Burgundian Tempranillo wines. Baja is the low hot lands sub region where Garnacha (Grenache) becomes more important. Producer is the most important determiner of quality as producers range from traditional savoury wines to modern silky, pure wines. The whites can be neutral and simple through to pretty and silky affairs.

Vino de Crianza (crianza wine)

Reds are aged for a minimum of 24 months in the winery, of which 6 months are spent in oak.