2021 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja

The grapes for the 2021 Reserva (sold as Crianza in Spain), mostly Tempranillo with some Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano, were picked late in a cooler year when they finished the harvest the 20th of October, with plenty of times for the grapes to develop full aromas and flavors and complete ripeness. It fermented destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, separating qualities, villages and soils, and matured in 80% French and 20% American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 24 months, with racking every eight to nine months. It's a textbook example of their style in a very good year, with power, concentration and clout, elegance and freshness. It was a very harmonious year; the cycle was long and the tannins ripened to perfection.

94 points robertparker.com

The winery’s flagship, the wine that introduced Muga to the world, the 2021 Muga Reserva is Tempranillo-dominant, with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano filling in the gaps. A larger-production wine, it offers tremendous quality, fermented in wooden vats using indigenous yeasts, the grapes separated by quality, soil type, and village origin. This one in particular is from a beautiful vintage and practically beams in full-bodied concentration, with supple, silky tannins and light touches of oak spice, cedar, balsamic, and white pepper.

94 points jebdunnuck.com

Bodegas Muga Reserva from Rioja is a beautifully crafted and quintessential example of traditional Rioja Alta winemaking, blending elegance, savoury complexity and vibrant fruit depth. Muga, a family run estate rooted in Haro since 1932, is one of the few bodegas that still cooper their own barrels, using American and French oak crafted onsite to achieve the seamless integration and subtle seasoning that defines their style. The grapes Tempranillo with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano come from high altitude vineyards on clay limestone soils that maintain freshness and perfume even in warmer years. After fermentation in oak vats, the wine matures for around two years in the bodega’s handcrafted barrels before resting in bottle for added harmony.

The aromas are layered and inviting. Red cherry, plum and dried raspberry mingle with sweet tobacco, cedar and warm spice. Notes of leather, dried herbs, vanilla and a faint whisper of orange peel unfold with air, showcasing the house’s signature blend of savoury charm and gentle oak complexity. As the wine breathes, hints of clove, cocoa and dusty earth add depth without overwhelming the fruit.

The palate is elegant, supple and beautifully balanced. Juicy red berry fruit glides across fine grained tannins, supported by vibrant acidity that gives the wine lift and longevity. Flavours of cherry, redcurrant, subtle spice and toasted oak build into a long, silky finish touched by savoury earth, cedar and Rioja’s trademark balsamic nuance. It is approachable now yet built to evolve gracefully for ten to fifteen years, gaining complexity in the form of truffle, dried roses and polished leather.

Pair it with roast lamb, jamón ibérico, grilled pork, mushroom tapas, Manchego, paella or winter stews. Muga Reserva is consistently one of Rioja’s most reliable and soulful wines, combining heritage, craftsmanship and outstanding value.