2019 Rioja Reserva Especial
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Tasting notes
Full bottle all of 1,525 g. Made only in the best, longest-lived vintages from Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano. Aged for 26 months in new French oak barrels. Extremely deep blackish garnet. A very different nose from the Alberdi 2019! Much more 'modern' (turn of the century) concentrated and arguably less expressive style. Very sweet palate entry and then still definite traces of the new oak tannins. This should be kept for a very long time before it reveals itself. I'm sure the fruit was very good quality but it's masked for the moment by the non-traditional oak. (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The subtle and harmonious 2019 Selección Especial reflects a very complete and good vintage. It has to be one of the finest vintages for this wine. 2019 is a powerful vintage with balance and freshness. The grapes ripened thoroughly and developed a full set of aromas and flavors. It's complex and nuanced, with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a long, dry and tasty finish. Selección applies to the vineyards but also the barrels and everything that contributes to this wine; it's not only a selection of lots, which was the case before the 1994 vintage. 274,992 bottles produced. It was bottled between April and June 2022 after 26 months in barrel.
The 2019 Selección Especial blends Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from vineyards on Montes Obarenes and the slopes of Sierra Cantabria. Aged for 26 months in the winery's French oak barrels, this garnet wine offers a balsamic core with delicate cherry and elder notes, accompanied by hints of licorice. Dry, intense and creamy, the chalky flow lingers, concluding with a velvety, complex finish. This red stands out for its crystal-clear expression, showcasing a range of Rioja's virtues.
Fresh and demure nose with lots of cocoa powder, blackcurrants, blackberries and a hint of cigar and charcoal. Excellent depth and class here with a very juicy center palate. Medium to full body with a long and layered finish. Drink or hold.
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.