El Coto 2012 Rioja Gran Reserva, Coto de Imaz

Located in Oyón, one of the historic cities of La Rioja, El Coto de Rioja was founded in 1970 and is the largest owner of vineyards in the D.O.Ca. Rioja, with four distinct estates (and eight individual properties) sprawling throughout the three sub regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Each estate is suited to produce the best wine that Rioja can offer.

This wine is the flagship. Sourced from their Cenicero Estate vineyards in the Rioja Alta region, the vineyards lie at a high altitude of 1500 feet assuring balanced ripening and good complexity. 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, fermentation is in stainless steel tanks for 21-30 days, with just enough maceration to achieve the balance between fruit and extract. The wine is aged in American and French oak barrels for a minimum of 24 months, followed by a minimum of 36 months in bottle.

Just awarded 97 points and Best in Show in the Decanter World Wine Awards! They said "This dark, relatively tight-knit Rioja proves that the Gran Reserva category doesn't just indicate the supremely well-aged, relaxed and reposeful style of Rioja, but can also serve to draw drinkers' attention to outstanding wines of density and tenacity which still have a way to run along their potential ageing trajectories. Look out for dark, urgent fruits here sweetened and back-lit by cunningly angled oak, with intense, deep, fresh and searching flavours in which the 10% of Graciano seems to be working overtime. A Rioja of innate drama. Drink 2019-2028"