WTN: A'modern' Spaniard - Coto de Hayas Reserva 2003 -

Coto de Hayas Reserva 2003 – Campo de Borja, Spain
100% Garnacha. Dark plummy red colour with a youthful brightness. Smoky aroma. Spicy, crisp and fresh to the taste with concentrated berry and plum fruit, a touch of grip to the velvety texture and a long lasting finish. Perhaps a touch of dried herb too, that adds to the savoury undertone. A clean, modern, medium to full-bodied style that's had 14 months in Amercan oak, but the oak is in harmony and does not intrude yet adds a gentle touch of sweetness to the finish.
At NZ$22.99 a bottle, this is not quite the same value as the Coto de Hayas Crianza 2004, a 60/40 Garnacha/Temparanillo blend costing just NZ$12.99 and written up in the January 'Value Wines' Wine Focus, but the Reserva is a much, much better wine and the one I would prefer to drink. I think it would be great both with and without food.
It has 13.5% alcohol and a cork closure.

Cheers,
Sue

Great notes there Sue. Nice to see you appreciating some wines from Spain, living a long way away in NZ!! What do the shelves contain in good NZ winestores?!!
Google search shows me a lot of on-line stores only

Great notes there Sue. Nice to see you appreciating some wines from Spain, living a long way away in NZ!! What do the shelves contain in good NZ winestores?!!
Google search shows me a lot of on-line stores only

Spanish wines are popular here Bob, because they can compete on price and drinkability against the bargain-priced Aussie quaffers. The two I mentioned on W/Focus at NZ$12.99, especially so. I wouldn't call this one, at $22.99, competitive, however, as we get so many drinkable and high quality Aussies around the NZ$17 to NZ$20 price tag. But I think I would prefer to drink this Coto de Hayas Reserva in a lot of sitations, as it's just so good. A new release here, but already aged in the bottle.