Coto De Imaz ,Rioja, Reserva 2004

Bren & David..Los Dos Muchachos!

September 9th 2010,  it  was the annual wine trade show from Spain which was on in the Shelbourne Hotel .Twenty of our Irish suppliers were showcasing their wines form all the different regions in Spain. More about that later.
David  Losantos,who is the export manager from El Coto, Rioja kindly took time out with Bren Smith, their Irish wine importer, after the show to visit our shop and take me through  the wonderful range of wines that El Coto make.
The bodega was founded in the early 1970's by a group of friends and as the story goes they have gone from strength to strength and never looked back. I tasted all their wines and I must say I thought they were all showing really well but the one that really stood out for me was the Coto De Imaz, Reserva, Roija 2004. Made from 100% Tempranillo. The grapes come from their own estate mainly in Rioja Alta, which is where some of the best fruit in Rioja is grown. The wine being a Reserva meaning it is aged for a minimum of 12 months in oak and  36 months between barrique and bottle before being released onto the market. On the nose the wine was full of red fruit aromas (cherries and strawberries) with a touch of spice the new American oak coming through,  the wine has lovely velvety character on the palate with good ripe tannins and very well balanced leaving a lovely lingering finish. It will work really well with Tapas. Sausage or peppery dishes, also lamb is one of the classic food and wine pairing for me with this Rioja.

The wine retails under 20 Euro and well worth seeking out. Also I know there is a special on the  basic El Coto, Rioja with all NoffLA members for the month of October at a steal for 10 Euro, which is a great introduction  into classic Rioja.