Winemaker: Manuel and Isaac Muga
Grape: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano
Region: Rioja, Spain
94 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
94 points Wine Spectator
See other wines from this producer:
Muga Rose
Muga Blanco
Muga Reserva
Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva
Bodegas Muga, owned by the Muga family since 1932, is located at Haro, Rioja Alta. When Isaac Muga Sr. passed away, his two sons took over and are representing the most traditional Rioja production today.
Muga is the only winery left in Spain that uses only oak throughout the process of elaboration. They even make their own cooperage from directly imported American and French oak.
The two top Muga wines are Torre Muga and Prado Enea. To create Torre Muga the winemaker uses small batches of a modern wine, very traditional blend of Rioja varietals and classic techniques. Only the top grapes from the winery are used in intense selection process on sorting tables after the harvest.
After fermentation in oak vats the wine is aged for 3 months in American oak, 18 thousand (!) liters vats, than 18 months in new French oak barrels and another year in the bottle. As all red wines from Muga, wine is fined with egg whites and bottled unfiltered.
Impressive red with a beautiful dark ruby color and strong aromas of blackberries, cocoa and oak. Great structure of oak combines seamlessly big tannins, fruitiness and acidity of this wine. Taste notes of tobacco, spices, black current and chocolate.
If the Prado Enea Gran Reserva was a delicate and elegant “Female”, Torre Muga is most definitely firm and impressive “Male”. Who knows, maybe the name Torre indicates the similarity with a character of bullfighters, the brave Torro? I would like that!
Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $95.00
Ideal food pairing:
Plan something special, maybe the best cut of Argentinian beef, with this impressive Rioja. Grilled meets, aged cheeses or roast beef.
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