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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Bodegas Muga's status as an all-time Rioja reference-point is reaffirmed with this sterling trio of releases at razor-sharp pricing, highlighted by the newly arrived, 99-point 2021 Torre Muga. The 2021 Rioja vintage is already garnering rave reviews in the press, and the 99-point Torre Muga reflects that praise, "a gorgeous wine from a gorgeous vintage that’s worth the price." Concentrated and robust yet also polished and refined, the 2021 expresses the character of its old-vine plots in Villalba de Rioja, Brinas, and Labastida. A host of impressive reviews from James Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Advocate further confirm the 2021 Torre Muga as a special achievement, worthy of the wine's loft reputation among collectors.
The 2020 Selección Especial Reserva rendtion ramps up the collectible appeal thanks to a particular feature of the vintage itself – no Prado Enea was made in 2020, so all the fruit and juice that would normally comprise that flagship icon has instead gone into the Selección Especial. So, it's no surprise that the 2020 picks up right where the 2019 leaves off, led by Jeb Dunnuck's 95-point review that highlights its "medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, and silky tannins," which makes it "already hard to resist."
The 97-point 2019 Prado Enea is unquestionably one for the ages. Muga's flagship bottling is always a coveted item, and 2019 rendition is already showing legendary pedigree that will thrill collectors and connoisseurs of Spain's finest. Luis Gutierrez' 97-point review in Wine Advocate is just the first of what's sure to be another raft of critical praise for the 2019, as it takes its place among the greats. Muga fans know that Prado Enea isn't made every year – no 2017 or 2018 was made, for instance – so when it does appear, we can be virtually assured that it's going to be a showstopper. With its "phenomenal" aromatic profile and a palate built on "power and elegance and very good aging potential," this is collectible Rioja class at its very best, and it's now available to our private clients at a must-see price that you won't find anywhere else.
Finally, Muga's incredible fan-favorite Blanco and Rosado absolutely shine in the newly released 2025 renditions. The 93-point 2025 Blanco is "super balanced, clean and focused, serious and chalky" according to Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez, while Joaquin Hidalgo calls it "a particularly successful vintage for this bottling." The 2025 Rosado notched 92 points for its "fresh and energetic [style] with fine texture and a sleek, nervy flow."
From collectibles to everyday showstoppers, Muga is clearly at the top of their game once again, and Spanish wine lovers have a plethora of surefire options to fit every need in they might have, for the cellar or tonight's dinner table. |
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From a slightly more challenging year for the region, the 2020 Muga Selección Especial checks in as 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo that's aged six months in new French barrique, followed by two full years in older French and American (70/30) oak barriques. Rocking levels of cassis and black raspberry-like fruit as well as graphite, spicy wood, violets, and lead pencil notes all shine on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, and silky tannins. It's already hard to resist.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jul 2024)
Their most gastronomical red is the 2020 Selección Especial, a blend of the four traditional varieties from Rioja—Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano—fermented in oak vats. Half of the destemmed grapes were put through an optical sorting machine. The wine matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months and was racked every eight to nine months. 2020 was a warm year, and the wine comes in at 14.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.56 and 5.75 grams of acidity. Manu Muga likes 2020 very much and says it's a year that suffers because it's in between 2019 and 2021. This is also a textbook example of this wine, a little more developed and tertiary, with generous spice and toast and a palate with more grip. The tannins are not as precise and elegant as those from 2021 (yeah, it suffers in the comparison), but it's a very worthy wine. 246,120 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2023 after being fined with egg whites.
94 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Feb 2025)
Mint, blackberries, cocoa powder, graphite, black pepper and roasted dark spices. Full-bodied and juicy, with lots of tannins that are quite sinewy and fine-grained. Really long. Needs at least two more years to come around. Tempranillo, garnacha, mazuelo and graciano. Drink after 2026.
94 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Aug 2024)
Hints of smoke, dark chocolate and loamy earth underscore a rich core of ripe black plum and mulberry fruit, with rose hip, iron and macchia notes. This is tightly meshed and fresh, opening nicely in the glass and showing good tension and chalky tannins on the well-spiced finish. Enjoy this today, but it should really shine with a little cellaring. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Best from 2026 through 2034. 20,000 cases made, 6,000 cases imported.
93 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Dec 2024)
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