2012 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva

Tempranillo

failed wine merchant Likes this wine: 92 points

April 10, 2017 - Coto de Imaz reserva is the premium bottling of El Coto rioja, whose famous label depicts the image of a wild stag. There is nothing wild or out of place with this 2012 reserva. This 2012 must be the best yet. When the cork is pulled, aromas of swirling dark and red berry fruit combine with leather, chocolate and a judicious amount of new oak to almost knock you out! The initial impression on the palate is of fleshy soft tannins, new oak and juicy berry fruit which are soft and refined, apart from the oak which is really prominent but clean and nicely integrated and would seem to add punch and power to this sublime wine. The finish is elegant and long. This reserva outpunches and overshadows its prestigious cousin - Baron de Ley 2012 - which is produced and bottled by the same company. El Coto de Imaz reserva 2012 is a quality rioja, a great drinking experience and great value for money. (8-9€)

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forceberry commented:

12/29/17, 6:05 AM - This is the mid-tier bottling. The premium bottling is logically Coto de Imaz Gran Reserva.
failed wine merchant commented:

1/7/18, 11:15 AM - Absolutely, you are spot on. But premium nonetheless in the sense that the crianza is very run of the mill whereas this reserva offering displays a significant jump in quality and can be compared favourably to other quality riojas - crianza, reserva or indeed gran reserva. (Time spent in barrel is not necessarily a mark of quality).
forceberry commented:

1/7/18, 1:15 PM - Fully agreed that neither time spent in barrel nor the price of the wine does equate to quality. I've noticed that very often I prefer the mid-tier bottlings over the premium / flagship wines of many wineries.

However, you still really can't say that this is their "premium bottling", as that normally refers to the tier in the quality pyramid of the winery, not to the actual quality of the wine. I'd find "best value bottling" or something along those lines more appropriate.