El Coto Rioja

COTO ROSÉ 2008
CALIFICATION: VERY GOOD

The general development of the vineyards until the start of harvest was good, both in terms of canopy development and in terms of health. The most notable factor was the abundant spring rainfall, which ensures sufficient water contribution to meet the needs of the cycle. The main risk of cryptogamic disease came as a consequence of these rains but was kept under perfect control thanks to the professionalism of Riojan growers.

Lower production figures per hectare were manifest throughout the growth cycle. This was mainly due to irregular setting. A lower number of grapes per cluster means the berries are looser, so they ripen better and have a lower risk of disease, and this translates into promising quality potential at harvest.

Samples taken before harvest showed good vine development with very healthy grapes, although ripening was irregular between plots, so selective harvesting was called for. Harvest began close to the traditional date for Rioja —on 11 September in Aldeanueva de Ebro with the Viura grape variety. It became widespread by the second week of October and finished on 10 November. Favourable weather allowed the first stage of the harvest to take place at a slow pace, in tune with Control Board recommended guidelines on the need to pick the grapes selectively so that each plot would reach ideal ripening parameters.

In all, the production potential of the 2008 harvest was more moderate than in other harvests. The final production was 396,6 million kilograms of grapes, 15M kg less than in 2007 and also less than that year in terms of maximum volume allowed to seek protection under the D.O. Calificada Rioja, —close to 405 million kg of grapes. From the grapes of the 2008 harvest finally approved by the D.O. (389 million kg) a total of 272 million litres of protected wine were made.

COTO WHITE 2008
CALIFICATION: VERY GOOD

The general development of the vineyards until the start of harvest was good, both in terms of canopy development and in terms of health. The most notable factor was the abundant spring rainfall, which ensures sufficient water contribution to meet the needs of the cycle. The main risk of cryptogamic disease came as a consequence of these rains but was kept under perfect control thanks to the professionalism of Riojan growers.

Lower production figures per hectare were manifest throughout the growth cycle. This was mainly due to irregular setting. A lower number of grapes per cluster means the berries are looser, so they ripen better and have a lower risk of disease, and this translates into promising quality potential at harvest.

Samples taken before harvest showed good vine development with very healthy grapes, although ripening was irregular between plots, so selective harvesting was called for. Harvest began close to the traditional date for Rioja —on 11 September in Aldeanueva de Ebro with the Viura grape variety. It became widespread by the second week of October and finished on 10 November. Favourable weather allowed the first stage of the harvest to take place at a slow pace, in tune with Control Board recommended guidelines on the need to pick the grapes selectively so that each plot would reach ideal ripening parameters.

In all, the production potential of the 2008 harvest was more moderate than in other harvests. The final production was 396,6 million kilograms of grapes, 15M kg less than in 2007 and also less than that year in terms of maximum volume allowed to seek protection under the D.O. Calificada Rioja, —close to 405 million kg of grapes. From the grapes of the 2008 harvest finally approved by the D.O. (389 million kg) a total of 272 million litres of protected wine were made.

Grape variety:
Viura 100% from Rioja Alavesa

Vinification:
Cold maceration for 12-24 hours; clarification and fermentation at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks for 15 days.

DESCRIPTCION:
Pale, clear, with greenish hues, intensely aromatic, well balanced, with body and a refreshing touch of tartness. El Coto Blanco’s pleasant acidity combines perfectly with an exquisite aftertaste of flowers, fruit and fine herbs.

Serving suggestions:
Serve at 10-12ºC.

EL COTO RIOJA CRIANZA 2005
CALIFICATION: EXCELENT
The 2005 harvest was not only generous with respect to quality, but also from a quantitative point of view. During the 2005 harvest, there were a total of 59,212 hectares in production (54,567 planted with red grape varieties and 4,645 hectares with white). The vineyards produced a harvest volume of 391.6 million kilograms of protected grapes, in accordance with maximum allowable yields (6,500 kg per hectare for red grapes and 9,500 kg per hectare for white grapes) set by the Control Board for this harvest. Maximum allowable yields are set to meet optimum quality objectives -one of the basic strategies of the Designation. This year, the Control Board Technical Services confirmed the compliance of grape growers in applying the most suitable growing techniques to attain this objective, such as the removal of clusters during veraison ("green pruning" or "cluster thinning") in many plots.

The rigorous approval process -which sets Rioja apart from other DOs in Spain, as befits its special condition of "Calificada"- provides detailed information on the quality of all wines made from every vintage. Each tank of wine in each bodega is sampled, providing highly reliable figures for the final vintage rating issued by the Rioja Control Board. This final rating is obtained through statistical calculations to ensure complete objectiveness. Only twelve vintages have been rated "excellent" by the Control Board since the Designation was officially recognised in 1925. The last five excellent vintages are 2005, 2004, 2001, 1995 and 1994.

The 2005 Vintage approval and rating process began in November. Samples were taken in all winemaking bodegas by Control Board overseers. Samples must be taken from batches of no more than 100,000 litres. The samples were then analysed at the laboratories of one of the DO's Oenological Research Stations and assessed by a tasting committee consisting of three professional wine tasters. These belong to the Control Board's external tasting panel consisting of over one hundred experts. The procedures used for sensorial assessment are strictly regulated and the anonymity and confidentiality of all samples tasted are strictly maintained.

A total of 4,283 samples were submitted before the 31 March deadline. Each sample had to pass rigorous analytical and sensorial tests before earning the right to be protected by the Designation. A total of 273.1 million litres were finally approved (15.42 white, 10.21 rosé and 247.47 red) while 65 samples (1.89 million litres) were rejected because of analytical or sensorial shortcomings. This is a relatively small percentage in view of the strictness with which rating criteria are applied and clearly an indication of the quality of this vintage. The remaining part of the 312.85 million litres submitted for approval was rejected because of excessive production yields.

Varieties:
Tempranillo 100 % from the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa.

Vinification:
Fermented in 500 Hl stainless steel vats. Lengthy maceration to obtain wines suitable for ageing.

Ageing:
12 months in 225-litre American-oak casks and 6 months in the bottle prior to release from our cellars. A careful selection of new wood from different places of origin, cooperages and levels of toasting.

Description:
Ruby-red colour. The nose preserves the fresh fruit and liquorice aromas typical of Tempranillo. Good balance in the mouth silky, velvety, with a good aromatic intensity throughout

Temperature:
Serve at 16-18º

COTO DE IMAZ GRAN RESERVA 2.000
CALIFICATION: GOOD

While the 1999 harvest suffered a 30% loss from severe spring frosts, this year’s weather was ideal for the vines’ growth cycle, resulting in outstanding production figures. The mild weather also ensured the absence of pests and disease, as well as hailstorms and other mishaps, allowing the grapes to arrive at the bodegas in perfect health an essential prerequisite for quality wine. In general terms, the harvest was slow and staggered, the longest in history; this being the result of seeking optimal ripening, particularly in terms of alcohol potential, which developed slowly this year. Colour intensity has also been good in general terms.

The 2000 harvest yielded 490 million kg of grapes (185 more than 1999). After the exhaustive qualification process, 308.61 million litres of wine were finally qualified as Rioja. This figure is 93.4 million higher than the previous year’s. The 2000 harvest marks yet another historical record, reaching the highest volume potential in the Denominacion under current regulations on maximum yields per hectare.

This has been a bountiful harvest, with a wide range of qualities, in which a sizeable percentage of wines have proved to be of excellent quality, ideally suited for ageing. While younger vineyards with a large production and low ripening have turned out light wines, it should be noted that in vineyards with older vines (over 30% of the total) and in those with moderate production figures, particularly at altitudes above 450 m, the grapes showed great ageing potential in their quality parameters, considered by some to be even better than those of the 1994 vintage. Although this vintage has received the same rating as last year’s, the statistical parameters used by the Control Board to calculate the rating gave higher marks for this year than for 1999. A large amount of wine was rejected this year (55.59 million litres) mainly due to production surpluses, enabling producers to have more choice in selecting quality wines.

Grape Variety:
Tempranillo 100% from Rioja Alta

Vinification :
In stainless steel vats for 21-30 days, with lengthy skin contact, in order to achieve a harmonious balance of tannins, acidity and colour which will be sufficient for its subsequent cask and bottle ageing.

Ageing :
24 months in 225-litre American-oak casks and 36 months in the bottle prior to release from our cellars.

Description :
Dark cherry-garnet colour. Fine aroma, with lots of good fruit and nuances of the toasted wood (black pepper, tobacco) and a pleasant animal touch (leather). Round, supple, velvety, with silky tannin and lots of flavour.