A Classic Full-Bodied Spanish Red Rioja

This here rioja is a true classic when it comes to Spanish red wine. I’ve been drinking it in numerous family gatherings and festivities in Mexico. My country of origin is likely the no.1 market for Rioja exports, and there El Coto enjoys quite a good reputation as an affordable yet solid wine that always delivers.

So, since moving to Spain, I was happy to see that it’s considerably cheaper here, for obvious reasons. I’ve shared many a locally-sourced bottle at home and outside and it never disappoints if you’re expecting what you should expect for a Crianza Rioja. 

The tasting for this writing is based on a 2019 Crianza bottle, which would be like the entry level bottle for this brand. After that, you get the “reservas”. Whether you’re considering a Crianza or a Reserva , let’s take a closer look at the story of this wine.

Making:
El Coto hails from the little charming town of Oyón in the heart of Rioja, Spain, just outside of Logroño, but already in the side of Navarra. It’s arguably the best-known wine by El Coto de Rioja, a winery established in 1970, but producing from vineyards that date back to 1548, which explains that number and crest in the label, in case you were wondering. A household name in Spain, the winery now belongs to Barón de Ley, one of the biggest in the region.

Today they run their operations from a benedictine monastery from the XVI century, right next to the Ebro, while the Tempranillo grapes used for El Coto are still grown in Oyón. 

El Coto is aged in a blend of American and French oak barrels. The Crianza spends at least two to three years aging, with a minimum of one year in oak and the rest in the bottle.

Of course, the “reserva” varieties mean the red is left longer to age. It’s three years for the regular Reserva and five years for the Gran Reserva. Good bet for special occasions where the plain ol’ El Coto might be too casual, but if you already like the Crianza, there are good chances that you’ll enjoy the pricier versions and your palate will deem them worthy.

For normal occasions like a chill Friday night at home, for instance, El Coto Crianza is a perfectly good wine. It has earned several accolades over the years, but we care more about the tasting: 

Tasting:

Eye: It’s a dark cherry red, as to be expected from any Crianza Rioja.

Nose: I tend to get a soapy note from El Coto first, but then also a bit of straw, cardamom, and— I kid you not— the distinctive smell of McDonald’s fries.

Mouth: As with all solid red Rioja’s, there’s a creamy taste that follows that first blow of alcohol you get immediately. Once a bit aired, it’s slightly fruit, dry, and peppery. I found that it stays quite consistent all throughout the drinking, even if you save half a bottle for the day after.

Pairing: It’s very good with any kind of red meat, and it really ramps up the pepper in the dish. Great bet for a surf and turf or smoked meats.

Here’s a detail sheet: https://www.elcoto.com/vinos/crianza/

Here’s where to buy in the US: https://www.abcfws.com/el-coto-rioja-crianza/640655

Here’s where to buy in Spain, but you see these almost in every supermarket: https://www.vinissimus.com/es/vino/el-coto-crianza/

¡Salud!