MUGA RIOJA SELECCION ESPECIAL
In Muga, they always use the finest materials and are open to new techniques that provide greater quality without losing authenticity. To produce each of their wines, they continue opting for traditional procedures: Through the natural process of fining, they eliminate the suspended particles that appear in the wine. They carry out the decanting by the traditional method of gravity. They are also the only cellar in Spain with a master cooper and three in-house barrel-makers.
After fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, the wine is aged for 26 months, 40% in new French oak barrel and 60% in a second-fill french barrel made in our cooperage. After being fined with fresh egg whites, the wine is bottled, after which it remains in our cellars for at least twelve months for further ageing.
A deep, very dense black-cherry colour. The nose reveals ripe, red berry fruit aromas together with notes of spices (pepper) and forest floor against a backdrop of coffee variations, such as milk coffee toffee and roasted coffee beans mingling with subtle well-integrated oak. Silky on the palate with tannins showing through, indicating the wine’s youth and good ageing potential and providing an elegant and balanced structure.
95 Points RobertParker.com
2018 was a cooler vintage, with a fairly long maturation, which made the wines somewhat fresher and less alcoholic, as showcased by the 2018 Selección Especial, a classical blend of the four red varieties from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano with contained ripeness (14.05% alcohol) and good freshness. It fermented in oak casks with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months. They were not very happy with the vintage and had to sort and discard, but as they didn't produce Prado Enea, Torre Muga or Haro, those grapes went into this wine. They are reluctant about 2018, but I think it was a vintage capable of the best and the worst, and this 2018 is floral, expressive and elegant. It's medium to full- bodied, with very fine, chalky tannins, combining power and elegance. Amazing! 187,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2021.
Luis Gutiérrez
7000+ Reviews!
