2004 Rioja Reserva Especial
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Tasting notes
The 2004 Selección Especial, a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from Montes Obarenes and the Sierra Cantabria slopes, matured for 26 months in the winery's French oak barrels. This garnet wine reveals sour cherry and thyme notes, accompanied by tertiary leather and subtle hints of tempera. Dry and silky, the faintly chalky palate lingers with a subtle Brettanomyces aroma—a taste of classic Rioja from years gone by.
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. Calcareous clay and alluvial soils. Vines 35 years old, yield 34hl/ha. 36 months in new oak barriques and a minimum of 12 months in bottle. After fermentation, maceration takes place for two to three weeks. The wine is then aged in oak and clarified with fresh egg whites. Suitable for vegetarians. Much darker and denser colour, overall darker than the ORO and more restrained. Complex aromas as it opens up in the glass – dark damson fruit, a little raisined in its sweetness, pepper and delicate spice and a leathery texture. Still quite grippy so better with food just now. (JH)
(the same blend as the Reserva) Saturated ruby color. Oak-spiced raspberry and boysenberry aromas are complemented by smoky minerals, pipe tobacco and incense. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, displaying impressively concentrated red and dark berry liqueur flavors and a late note of candied licorice. A strong cherry-vanilla quality lingers on the long, sappy finish. Extremely impressive Rioja, deftly balancing energy and power.
The 2004 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial is deep crimson-colored. Dense and packed, it offers up aromas of cedar, spice box, mineral, pencil lead, and assorted black fruits. It nicely conceals enough structure for 6-8 years of evolution. This lengthy effort should drink well through 2030. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain. Tel: (781) 461-5767
About the producer
Nestled in the historic town of Haro, at the very heart of Rioja Alta, Bodegas Muga stands as a beacon of tradition and excellence, seamlessly marrying time-honoured winemaking with the finest modern refinements.