It was a fun-filled weekend with a visit to Milagro on Saturday and a Spanish wine tasting event at my home on Sunday. The El Coto wine tasting event was a big success with thumbs up on all the wines.
El Coto Wine Tasting: The results
As I mentioned last week, El Coto de Rioja is a very large winery that spans several single-purpose buildings and several vineyards. And they produce pretty impressive white, Rosé, and aged red wines in the La Rioja region of Spain. The wines we tried were well-priced, in fact a couple of our tasters wanted to know where we could get it. Some are available from Total wine, but not our NM stores. However, they should be shippable from other sources.
For your consideration: El Coto Blanco 2022, 12% ABV, $14
This white is a blend of Viura, Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are from the Finca Carbonera vineyard. The grapes are cooled instantly in inert atmosphere, and from that moment, the whole production process is kept at a very low temperature to obtain maximum quality and finesse of aromas. (Website: https://www.elcoto.com/en/)
Our Tasting notes: Everyone loved this wine; it was crisp and fresh with clean notes of citrus and white flowers with good minerality and a good finish. The care they took in making this wine shows in its balance and lightness. Highly recommended.
For your consideration: El Coto Rosado 2021, 13.5% ABV,
This is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha. Rosé is developed in part through the free-run juice of the grapes in the cellar and in part through the special maceration and later pressing. The must is clarified before fermentation. The entire production process is done at very low temperatures. The acidity level is lower to emphasize the strawberry and red currant fruit flavors.
Our Tasting notes: This was another winner all around. Even though it had more extraction, the crispness was still present and the fruit shone brightly on the palate with a clean, lingering finish. I didn’t notice the sweetness of the tasting notes, but one of our tasters did note it.
For your consideration: El Coto Crianza 2019, 13.5% ABV,
As the name suggests this Crianza is aged at least 12 months in 225 liter American oak and 6 months in bottle. It displays flavors of fresh raspberry, cherry, spice and toasted oak.
Our Tasting notes: I did a double decant with this wine and it had over an hour of breathing time. Everyone wanted seconds so the bottle disappeared pretty fast. Tempranillo is one of my favorite red grapes as the tannins are not overpowering and the fruit is vibrant. This was a balanced, already drinkable wine with a velvety mouthfeel, rich red fruits, spice and a touch of earth.
Conclusion: Three different wines all made exceptionally well and at very affordable prices. I just hope they find their way to New Mexico soon.
Wine Tasting Events and Results
One of the things I look forward to every month is the release of new wines from Milagro Vineyards, which was last weekend. Lately winemaker Rick Hobson has been releasing two each month so all the more reason for me to go. So since I missed previous tastings, this is my take on current vintages.
For your consideration: Milagro 2020 Chardonnay, 12.8% ABV, $30 (plus tax)
This Chardonnay is “Estate Bottled” and from the Old Church and Corrales Road vineyards that are planted with Dijon clone 95. One of my favorite clones as it happens.
Tasting notes: The 2020 vintage is typical of past vintages – Old World in style emphasizing fruit, texture and crisp natural acidity. It has aromas of citrus and apple, flavors of ripe apple, pear and light mineral, crisp acidity and long finish. I started with this wine and later had a glass to decide; one bottle or two? Two won out.
For your consideration: Milagro 2020 Zinfandel, 13.6% ABV, $32 w/tax).
Zinfandel can be crafted in many ways; from big jammy, high alcohol wines to those done in the old world tradition of a balance of freshness, or crispness with lower alcohol and extraction. More in what’s called a claret-style. I love both styles, but if I’m considering food pairing the claret-style is my choice.
This wine is aged two years in oak and one year in the bottle so what we have is a finished wine that is good to drink now, but will also age well. As if to prove the point, Rick also had the 2016 library Zinfandel and 2016 Old Church Road Zinfandel for tasting and sale. I was very tempted to just pay extra for the 2016s, but finally grabbed two of the 2020.
For your consideration: Milagro 2019 Syrah, 13.5% ABV, $34 w/tax)
This Syrah is grown on the west side sandy slopes of Corrales formed by the Rio Grande River. This has been a successful site for all the past vintages. The sandy soil (ground up rock) and the hot summers, particularly this year and the cold winters and our southwest winds aided by drip irrigation mimic the northern Rhone Valley where this grape is native.
I really liked the rustic take of this Syrah, loaded with spice, rich fruit and earthy notes and a hint of bacon. Who could resist that? Aged two years in oak and one in the bottle it is good now, and as with the Zinfandel, will be finer with some age. To emphasize that point, there was a 2016 library Syrah for tasting that almost brought tears to my eyes it was so good. But instead I picked up two of the 2019. Now I just have to be patient and age these wines.
For your consideration: 2019 Pinot Noir, 13.5% ABV, $38 (w/tax)
This wine was released last October. I don’t recall getting a bottle since we held an MRG Vine & Wine Society event at the winery. I quickly corrected that by getting two bottles as the wine is now too delicious to pass up. Cranberry, cherry and raspberry fruit shine over a silky mouthfeel of this wine aged two years in oak and one in the bottle. Normally this wine is sold out by now, but my good luck there were still a few left, so I did not hesitate.
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