Muga Blanco Rioja 2022  £17.49

MUGA BLANCO RIOJA

Bodegas Muga is a family business founded by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño in 1932, which is located in the historic Barrio de La Estación (Station Quarter) of Haro.  With an area of around 25,000 square metres, it is home to both the most traditional winemaking methods and the latest cutting-edge techniques.

Made using a blend of Viura, Garnacha blanca and Malvasía de Rioja grown on mainly calcareous clay from the Valle del Oja district and ferrous clay from the Upper Najerilla Valley. 

Hand-harvested. After light maceration of the must with the skins in the press, this ferments in different-sized wooden vats and new French oak casks with very lightly toasted wood sourced from the Nevers region. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine remains for 4 months in the casks, with lees stirring or “bâtonage” twice per week during the first months and once a day during the final month, so as to keep the fine lees in contact with the wine to protect it from oxygen and to give a smoother mouth-feel and more complexity.

The 2022 vintage of Muga Blanco has a lovely straw-yellow colour. On the nose, it reveals itself to be a complex wine, with citrus notes, such as lemon, lemon cake, floral aromas (white blossom) and stone fruit (peach), with even hints of vanilla.

On the palate, it stands out for its well-balanced acidity. This is a powerful wine in which the floral, citrus and stone fruit notes reappear in a very long finish.

Perfect with grilled fish, shellfish and rice dishes, among others. Ideal for drinking by the glass, as a starter or with a small appetiser on a terrace.

91 Points Robert Parker

"The white 2021 Blanco was produced with a blend of Viura, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía de Rioja that fermented in oak vats and new French barriques and matured with the lees and two bâtonnages per week in the beginning and later daily for a total of four months. It's balsamic, a little medicinal and aromatic. They keep growing in Garnacha Blanca with very good results. It's light and fresh, with very clean aromas and flavors. 240,000 bottles produced. It was bottled at different times from a master blend.." Luis Gutiérrez