Muga Reserva 2018, Rioja Spain

Muga Reserva 2018, Rioja

Muga Reserva is an exquisite red wine from Rioja Alta, composed of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo. The wine is aged for 2-3 months in large wooden vats, followed by 24 months in oak barrels and a further 12 months in bottle. It offers aromas of black cherries, figs, lilacs, pepper, forest floor, pipe tobacco and sweet spices. The taste is juicy with soft tannins and a well-balanced acidity, which gives a smooth and elegant experience.

Recommendation:
Ideal for festive dinners or as an everyday wine for dishes such as pork chops, braised lamb, intense pasta dishes or spicy vegetarian dishes. It is best enjoyed after 1-2 hours of aeration or can be stored for up to 20 years to achieve greater complexity.

94 points - James Suckling: "A lovely, juicy red wine with notes of berries and plums, combined with chocolate, spice, walnut and cedar. Medium bodied with round tannins and a tasty finish. A touch of dried fruit in the mid-palate. A nice combination of spicy and fresh fruit notes. Also a little orange peel. A young Prado Enea. Drink now."

93 points - Robert Parker: "The red 2017 Reserva, sold as Crianza in Spain, is their most popular wine and accounts for half of the company's total production. It was fermented in oak vats and matured in barrels for 24 months, made by their own coopers. The wine is clarified with egg whites and stored in bottle for a further 12 months before release. I had the wine in the glass for a very long time and it kept improving; it started out a bit milky and creamy, then became more and more serious."