Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2018
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L'avis des experts
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.
Fresh and dried cherries, oyster shells, spice box and dried herbs on the nose. Flint stone, too. Structured, mineral and very fresh with tight and fine-grained tannins and a medium body. Vibrant and fragrant. Lightly austere at the end. Smaller production and greater selection this year - only Rioja Reserva and Seleccion Especial made. Try from 2024.
The 2018 Muga Selección Especial is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano y Mazuelo. It shows the fresher style of the vintage yet has good richness in its cassis and black raspberry fruit profile as well as notes of tobacco leaf, violets, and spicy oak. Straight-up gorgeous on the palate, it shines for its purity, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. I'm a fan.
Always a terrific wine, the 2016 Selección Especial is based on 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo. Almost Rhône-like with its spicy, meaty, gamey style, this beauty offers lots of red and black currants, cedary spice, incense, and tobacco aromas and flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, has terrific balance, silky tannins, and is just a class act. The 2015 is a richer, more opulent wine, while the 2016 shows a touch more freshness and elegance. Both are beautiful vintages worth buying, cellaring, and drinking.
Always a comparative bargain in the Muga range, this Selección Especial benefited from the fact that Torre Muga, Prado Enea and Aro were not produced in 2018. Combining Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, most of it from the area around Haro, this is sweet, succulent, refreshing and comparatively forward, with scented French oak and layers of spicy dark berry fruit. 2024-35
Desde antiguo la familia Muga ha tenido vinculación con la viticultura. Ya en 1870, Antonio y Baltasar Muga recibieron un premio a la calidad de sus vinos del entonces Ministerio de Fomento.
Millésimes: 2019 2018 2016 2015
Envío muy rápido. Transportista muy amable. Total 5*
Vino sabroso, carnoso, con mucha fruta madura del bosque. Posee elegancia tanto en nariz, boca y retrogusto. Es uno de los grandes clásicos.
Casa suegros, almejas y cigalas gallegas recien traidas. Vinazo clásico riojano, serio y cumplidor en todos los aspectos.
Ha dejado mucho que desear, un final estridente e impropio de una botella de esta categoría. Mala conservación. Muy decepcionado.
Fondo, elegancia, quizás medio grado menos hubiera sido mejor
Tal vez de los mejores Rioja que he probado siendo como soy adicto a la Ribera de Duero. Un gran vino. Muy equilibrado .