At tasting. Brief note. This reminds me of 60's Saint Julien a little bit with notes of worn leather, cedar, cloves, roses and gravel. Soft, plummy, spicy with plenty of dry extract on the midpalate. Long finish is immensely pleasurable and complex. A real treat to try.
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A pleasure. Another superb old Rioja showing all of the finest that aged Tempranillo can: pure dark, wet oak, smoke, leather, sappy tawny colored fruit, a slightly sweeter dark cherry and that elegant aging brick color that signifies old but alive wine. Not as complex as the 1976 or 1970 ex- cellars release, but these last two 1981s, which came together in the last year, demonstrate the fine wine making at Muga. Drink up or lose the moment.
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A nice surprise-- the third 81 from the ex-cellars releases a few years ago. While still not nearly as subtle or complex as the the 1970 or 1976, and not close to worth its price, this bottle was much better than the prior two. A good fruit center, temrpanillo the old style way, with fading bricked color, a center of medium dark cherry surrounded by clay tones, and a bit of leather and earth. It stood up well over 45 minutes and does not need decanting.
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Muga is one of the great and oldest Rioja houses. WIth friends ,we bought several of the 2010 cellar release of the 70,76,80 and 81.The 70 was wonderful, the 76 very nice. This wine shoudl not have been included. Two bottles thus far show a tired, almost dying wine, typical of the pre 96 riojas which were potentially but not usually age worthy., The characteristic tawny color, smokey, cherry, peat like nose and smooth,somewhat sweet cherry center surrounded by the clay smoke ring were there , but not with enough fruit to carry the weight of a $200 price tag. Interesting yes, but at best that.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Light dried herbs. Lots of age showing in the color - massive bricking. Some ripeness still left but no tannin structure at all. Falls short as a whole on the palate especially. Some marmalade play coming through as well along with Potpourri accents. The warm climate is coming through as stewed red stone fruit. The finish is disjointed. Maybe indicative of the vintage? As a whole the nose is decent.
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Enjoyed this at The Studio at the Montage (Laguna CA) for a Mother's Day Eve dinner. I was a bit disappointed at the first glimpse of the wine. Light brown in color. Checked it close to make sure it had not corked or turned. It was OK. Not much of an aroma. Very light on the tongue and smooth. Not very complicated and the wife loved it. I was not all that impressed, but I usually like the bigger wines. I am sure this is a great tempranillo, but I have enjoyed other younger Bodega Gran Reserva that ahd more going for them. Lisa and the team at the Studio did an incredible job serving.
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Very pretty with light candied fruit and some acidity. Light bodied with notes of tobacco, similar to an aged Barolo. Mature and ready to drink. Not getting better, but will hold on for a while longer. B/B+
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7/29/2018 - ESTEELE90 Likes this wine:
At tasting. Brief note. This reminds me of 60's Saint Julien a little bit with notes of worn leather, cedar, cloves, roses and gravel. Soft, plummy, spicy with plenty of dry extract on the midpalate. Long finish is immensely pleasurable and complex. A real treat to try.
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11/20/2014 - Sotto325 wrote: 93 Points
A pleasure. Another superb old Rioja showing all of the finest that aged Tempranillo can: pure dark, wet oak, smoke, leather, sappy tawny colored fruit, a slightly sweeter dark cherry and that elegant aging brick color that signifies old but alive wine. Not as complex as the 1976 or 1970 ex- cellars release, but these last two 1981s, which came together in the last year, demonstrate the fine wine making at Muga. Drink up or lose the moment.
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3/22/2014 - Sotto325 wrote: 91 Points
A nice surprise-- the third 81 from the ex-cellars releases a few years ago. While still not nearly as subtle or complex as the the 1970 or 1976, and not close to worth its price, this bottle was much better than the prior two. A good fruit center, temrpanillo the old style way, with fading bricked color, a center of medium dark cherry surrounded by clay tones, and a bit of leather and earth. It stood up well over 45 minutes and does not need decanting.
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9/13/2012 - jim dixon wrote: 93 Points
Really terrific and seemed like it could last another ten years easy. Very complex nose of leather, cigar store, spices.
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8/4/2011 - Sotto325 wrote: 85 Points
Muga is one of the great and oldest Rioja houses. WIth friends ,we bought several of the 2010 cellar release of the 70,76,80 and 81.The 70 was wonderful, the 76 very nice. This wine shoudl not have been included. Two bottles thus far show a tired, almost dying wine, typical of the pre 96 riojas which were potentially but not usually age worthy., The characteristic tawny color, smokey, cherry, peat like nose and smooth,somewhat sweet cherry center surrounded by the clay smoke ring were there , but not with enough fruit to carry the weight of a $200 price tag. Interesting yes, but at best that.
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6/18/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 88 Points
least favorite of the tasting but still loved it (70, 76, 80, 81).
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2/19/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Light dried herbs. Lots of age showing in the color - massive bricking.
Some ripeness still left but no tannin structure at all.
Falls short as a whole on the palate especially.
Some marmalade play coming through as well along with Potpourri accents.
The warm climate is coming through as stewed red stone fruit.
The finish is disjointed. Maybe indicative of the vintage? As a whole the nose is decent.
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5/9/2009 - ewineguy wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed this at The Studio at the Montage (Laguna CA) for a Mother's Day Eve dinner. I was a bit disappointed at the first glimpse of the wine. Light brown in color. Checked it close to make sure it had not corked or turned. It was OK. Not much of an aroma. Very light on the tongue and smooth. Not very complicated and the wife loved it. I was not all that impressed, but I usually like the bigger wines. I am sure this is a great tempranillo, but I have enjoyed other younger Bodega Gran Reserva that ahd more going for them. Lisa and the team at the Studio did an incredible job serving.
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5/13/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Very pretty with light candied fruit and some acidity. Light bodied with notes of tobacco, similar to an aged Barolo. Mature and ready to drink. Not getting better, but will hold on for a while longer.
B/B+
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2/9/2007 - psmith wrote:
A great assortment from a generous friend (Columbus, OH): Stinky tar and leather notes. Definitely showing age, but in a nice place now. Good body. Nice wine.
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