El Coto 875m Finca Carbonera Rioja Chardonnay 2024
The 875m Finca Carbonera Chardonnay opens with vibrant fruity and floral aromas alongside notes of toast and vanilla. There is a marked smoothness on the palate with tropical and stone fruit flavours that are supported by hints of smoke and hazelnut from oak ageing.
The grapes for this Chardonnay are sourced from El Coto's Finca Carbonera estate, at 875 metres above sea level, making it the highest vineyard in Rioja and ideal for the new white grape varieties approved by the Rioja Regulatory Board. A wide diurnal range aids the slow, steady ripening of the grapes, ensuring they retain fresh acidity and perfumes. The vineyard sits on a glacis – a sloping bank beneath an old fortress - with stony top soils that provide good drainage and aid in the health and maturation of the grapes.
The grapes were destemmed, cold macerated and gently pressed at the winery. Fermentation took place at 16ºC in 100% new, untoasted French oak barriques. After fermentation, the wine remained on the lees for a period of time, with stirring carried out in order to increase complexity and texture. It was then aged for 10 weeks in oak before bottling.
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 730 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 Blanco is fermented at 14–16°C to preserve aromas and to retain freshness. The Rosado, a scented blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, is bursting with fresh strawberry aromas. All the red wines are fresh and juicy with nicely balanced oak. The Crianza, made solely from Tempranillo, is aged in American oak for 12 months followed by a further six months in bottle before release. The resulting wine is clean, vibrant and supple. The Organic Crianza is made from organically grown Tempranillo and vinified in a separate winery. It is aged in 225-litre American oak barrels for 12 months, and the materials used for the both the label and packaging have been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
