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> 2012 El Coto, Rioja Coto Imaz Gran Reserva, 6x1.5ltr

2012 El Coto, Rioja Coto Imaz Gran Reserva, 6x1.5ltr

2012 El Coto, Rioja Coto Imaz Gran Reserva (Magnums)

Availability: In stock

Case size: 6 / Bottle size: 1.5l

Duty Status

From £195.00

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Tasting Notes
Product Description

Critics Score: 97

Publication: Decanter

Drinking Dates: 2019-2028

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.

2012 El Coto, Rioja Coto Imaz Gran Reserva

El Coto was founded in 1970 in Rioja Alavesa and has grown from modest beginnings into one of the best known Rioja producers. Today El Coto has over 700 hectares of vineyard in production across the three Rioja DOCa sub-zones of Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental. They also source grapes from all three areas, but mostly from Rioja Alavesa. Head winemaker César Fernandez oversees production, starting with hand picking into 350 kilogram crates to ensure the grapes arrive at the winery in pristine condition. Modern and intelligently designed, the emphasis in the winery is on temperature control and gentle handling of the grapes.

Grapes for the two Coto de Imaz wines are picked exclusively from El Coto's estate in Cenicero in Rioja Alta, where the soils are limestone and clay.

After harvest, only the best grapes were selected for this wine, as the maceration on the skin lasts for three to four weeks. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures of 21-27ºC for 21-30 days. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The resulting wine was then aged in new French and American oak for a minimum of 24 months, followed by 36 months ageing in bottle.

The 2012 vintage was marked by drought, which had an effect on both grape volume and grape quality in some places, but also resulted in a significant quantity of very high quality wine. Rains in late September had a positive effect on ripening and harvested grapes were well balanced and healthy. The Rioja Control Board rated the 2012 vintage ‘Very Good’.