Deep ruby color; raspberry, cherry, plum, fig, licorice, spice, oak toast on the nose and palate.
Dry; significant but not onerous tannins—this is tempranillo, after all. Oak notes from a year in 60-gallon American oak barrels, followed by six months of bottle age before release. Medium body. Simple acidity. Smooth out of the bottle, but can benefit from time in glass or decanting. Straightforward, easy drinker. Nice everyday wine. 13.5% ABV
El Coto is large production operation of value wines, a combination of a dozen small wineries. El Coto focuses exclusively on barrel-aged crianza, while others specialize in other Spanish grapes and winemaking techniques. This effort will not deliver subtilty or exotic refinement, but it does deliver very tasty wine at an excellent price point. Sometimes you just want fun and flavor, and this wine will provide that for you.
Bodega El Coto de Rioja traces its beginning to 1970s and the first harvest. The first winery opened in 1976, and a management team of owner Eduardo Santos-Ruiz, winemaker Pedro Guasch, and business and finance leaders Julian Díez and Julio Noain joined forces. By 1990, El Coto was firmly established as an international brand.
International business led to expansion of the winery in 1995. By 2000, El Coto was the leading brand in Crianza and Reserva red wines in Rioja. By 2004, El Coto was the largest winery in Rioja. In 2010, they began planting white grapes on the highest vineyard in Rioja. In 2014, the company built a winery to focus on white wine.
El Coto de Rioja labels feature deer and the winery. The website notes: “The basis of our new labels is a natural vignette with iconic elements for El Coto de Rioja. The engraving includes the deer that receives visitors at the entrance to the winery or the Monastery of Imaz, emblematic and historical elements that now also form part of our presentations.”
El Coto de Rioja Crianza 2019 is simple, tasty tempranillo that will not challenge your palate or your pocketbook, but will serve you well for a weekday splash of red fruit flavor without blowing you away with alcohol. Competent effort from the largest maker in Rioja. Pair with Spanish tapas (small portion appetizers); grilled and roasted meats—lamb chops, beef tenderloin, ribeye, New York strip; pork; comfort food—barbecue, burgers and sliders, meatloaf, beans and chili, pizza, mac and cheese. Cheese—versatile; manchego, idiazabal, aged sheep’s milk cheese, parmesan, aged cheddar, swiss, morbier. $17
El Coto website; well done and informative
