Our Professional Review
Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com | Muga Reserva is a modern and stylish interpretation of a Reserva. Aromas of dark fruit: plums, and blackberries adorn the nose. Medium-bodied with firm tannins, hint of cinnamon and dark chocolate. A deep and satisfying finish.
Winemaker Description
This 2020 vintage has a bright ruby-red color, with medium depth and a garnet-tinged rim. On the nose you discover an intense, complex wine. Aromas of wild fruits of the forest (blackberries and blueberries) come to the fore, with hints of spices. On the palate it is long, elegant and nicely balanced. Its sharp acidity is perfectly integrated and it has soft tannins. The finish is very long and full of fruit.
This wine will be an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes like a ribeye steak, as well as with charcuterie and all kinds of casseroles.
Expert Review
James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe but fresh nose of currants, blackberries, chocolate and plums. Not a big red, rather fluid and medium-bodied with soft tannins. A juicy, drinkable Muga Reserva that is already appealing. (2020).
Wine Spectator 91 Points | A rich, savory thread of tobacco, smoke and ground coffee underscores flavors of creamed cherry and blackberry fruit, black olive, orange peel and cocoa powder in this fresh and focused red. Medium-bodied and well-knit, with lightly chewy tannins firming the finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2030. 80,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported. (2020).
Expert Ratings
Luis Gutiérrez 94 Points | The 2019 Reserva, sold as Crianza in Spain, comes from a dry and warm year with low yields and concentrated wines. The grapes from the Haro zone, the four from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano fermented destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and 80% of the volume matured in French oak and the rest in Centro European and American oak, 20% of them new, for 22 months, during which time the wine was racked every eight to nine months. This is serious and young but balanced, nuanced and complex. They are shortening the time in oak, as they feel they have better and younger barrels and think the wines need less time in oak and more time in bottle. This is very Muga, very Rioja and very good. There is only one master blend that is bottled at different times. I tasted a bottle that was filled in April 2022 (because of the lack of availability of bottles!). Drinking 2022 - 2027.
James Suckling 94 Points | This is a structured and linear Muga Reserva with a creamy and fine-tannined backbone and graphite, cherry, plum and black-truffle character. Medium-bodied, racy and beautiful. 70% tempranillo, 20% grenache and 10% mazuelo and graciano. Delicious now, but will age beautifully in the cellar.
Muga Reserva is a modern and stylish interpretation of a Reserva. Aromas of dark fruit: plums, and blackberries adorn the nose. Medium-bodied with firm tannins, hint of cinnamon and dark chocolate. A deep and satisfying finish.
- Oscar Garcia M., 67 Wine Buyer
