El Coto was founded in 1970 in Rioja Alavesa and has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the best-known producers in Rioja. Now the largest vineyard owner in the region, El Coto has more than 800 hectares of vineyards across the three Rioja DOCa sub-zones of Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, allowing them to represent the vast diversity found within the area. In 2023, El Coto was certified under the Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection organisation (SWfCP), in recognition of their improved sustainability practices, which include the installation of solar panels, reducing bottle weights and packaging improvements.

Head winemaker César Fernández oversees production at El Coto, starting with hand-picking into 350-kilogram crates to ensure the grapes arrive at the winery in pristine condition. Modern and intelligently designed, the emphasis in the winery is on temperature control and gentle handling of the grapes.

The ‘Coto de Imaz’ wines are made from a selection of the best Tempranillo grapes grown in El Coto’s vineyards in Cenicero, Rioja Alta. The soils here are limestone-rich clay and produce grapes of great flavour intensity and excellent levels of acidity, crucial for the making of Reserva and Gran Reserva wines which undergo extensive oak ageing.

2020 was a challenging vintage in Rioja with adverse weather across the entire region, including storms and hail in spring which affected yields. Conditions improved in the second half of the vintage when warmer temperatures arrived. The hot and dry summer accelerated growth, but significant heatwaves in September required careful vigilance of the ripeness levels in the fruit. Despite the difficulties, the crop was healthy and showed great concentration and freshness, and the vintage was officially rated `Very Good` by the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Board.

This wine has an intense cherry colour with slight garnet edge. On the nose, the aromas are powerful and complex, with notes of ripe fruit and fine cocoa. Fleshy on the palate, this wine is velvety, with ripe tannins and good acidity.

Pair with grilled lamb chops, beef tenderloin, roast pork with herbs or braised short ribs.  The deep, earthy notes of the wine pair beautifully with slow-cooked meats.