El Coto de Rioja Crianza

Tasting Notes El Coto de Rioja Crianza

First, one tastes a lot of (red) fruit, followed by aromas and flavors of vanilla and toast (due to aging in oak barrels). In the mouth, this Rioja Crianza is silky smooth. Powerful, supple, and elegant at the same time. With a clear cherry color and garnet rim. Spanish red at its best!

Wine & Food

This Rioja Crianza from El Coto is delicious with tapas, cured ham, hamburgers, sausages, chicken, and even a Mediterranean fish stew.

Additional Information

During one of my wine trips, I visited this winery and had the opportunity to taste this Rioja.

The El Coto winery de Rioja is a relatively young (1970) but very successful company. The winery in Oyón, just north of Logroño, is impressive for its scale and efficiency combined with ancient traditions.

In addition, El Coto owns over 700 hectares of vineyards spread across 7 different locations, enabling them to achieve optimal diversity in grape supply. The vineyard management is scientifically supervised, ensuring that grapes of the highest possible quality can be produced under all circumstances.

For the aging of its red wines, El Coto uses 72,000 oak barrels. This is unique in Rioja and even in the world. The result of all these efforts has ensured that El Coto produces wines with an exceptionally good price-quality ratio.

In a short time, they have grown to become one of the leading houses in the region. For example, El Coto Crianza is the best-selling Rioja Crianza in Spain, and El Coto Blanco is even the best-selling white Rioja in the entire world!

Awards/Distinctions 🏆

El Coto Crianza is the best-selling Rioja in Spain.

James Suckling, 2018 – 90 points (2015)
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, 2016 - Silver Medal (2012)
Prague Wine Trophy, 2016 - Gold Medal (2012)
International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2016 - Silver Medal (2012)
International Wine Challenge, 2016 - Commended (2012)
Wine Spectator, April/May 2016 - 88 points (2012)