2010 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial |
| Vintage | 2010 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Bodegas Muga (web) | ||
| Variety | Tempranillo Blend | ||
| Designation | Selección Especial | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Region | La Rioja | ||
| SubRegion | La Rioja Alta | ||
| Appellation | Rioja | ||
| UPC Code(s) | 615503150093, 8414542150093, 8414542150154, 8414542151106 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2019 and 2027 (based on 58 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Muga Rioja Seleccion Especial (Reserva) on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 91 pts. in 220 notes) | |
| Tasted by Italophil on 4/19/2024 & rated 92 points: Deliciously smooth but now slightly unbalanced with limited fruit (582 views) | |
| Tasted by CDT on 11/1/2023 & rated 93 points: Tasted after a 1 1/2hr decant. Dark ruby in colour with lovely aromas of sweet black fruit, potpourri & chocolate/leather. On the palate, medium bodied sour cherry, dried fruit (blackberries?), raisin/fig, chocolate/tobacco/leather, oak as cedar, high acidity, high soft tannins with a long finish to black pepper & minerality. Still fruit present, but mostly in the dried fruit range. Lots of tertiary flavours with complexity & balance! Very nicely done, and completely approachable with a medium decant. (1592 views) | |
| Tasted by bwillia on 7/20/2023 & rated 90 points: Huge potential but way too young yet. Dominated by structure at this point. (1909 views) | |
| Tasted by empire80 on 6/25/2023 & rated 92 points: Lovely rioja, dense black cherry fruit, a hint of balsam, tannins perfectly integrated. Great now but many years ahead. (1911 views) | |
| Tasted by ThompsonandFrench on 4/21/2023 & rated 99 points: 2 hour decant thru Rabbit. From Magnum. Somewhat non-descript upon opening. But after some hours it evolved into a big, round, fruity wine. Very little Riojan tobacco or sourness. Really rather delicious. It will no doubt evolve further, but delicious right now. (2245 views) | |
| Tasted by mwneil on 10/1/2022 & rated 94 points: Good stuff, nice bouquet, dark color, medium to full body, tons of complex flavors, great structure, it picked up weight as it opened up, smooth tannins that keep it a bit rustic, drank with paella with chicken, clams, monkfish and chorizo, a really enjoyable wine that has me saying to myself why am not drinking more Muga wines. (3283 views) | |
| Tasted by Mhbeaune on 9/18/2022 & rated 92 points: Lovely strong nose of ripe dark fruits and hint of Tar before the pleasure of the taste. It does not disappoint. Everything hinted on the nose is delivered on the palet good length of about 20seconds. Not at all drying and no noticeable tannin . In the mouth full but not overpowering. Fantastic QPR IMO. Pleased I have purchased a case(12) of 2016 with more of the 2010 in my cellar. Perfect with roast beef (2639 views) | |
| Tasted by NickBurwood on 9/11/2022 & rated 91 points: Hold till 2024 - 91+ (Magnum) (2391 views) | |
| Tasted by Hoots on 8/28/2022 & rated 92 points: A beautiful expression of the Muga terroir - decanted for 1 hour and consumed with a birthday bbq burger. (2452 views) | |
| Tasted by Samsfwinenut on 8/13/2022 & rated 92 points: 2 hour decant. In its absolute sweet spot, all leather/cedar with lovely soft tannins. Better to drink a bottle 5 years too early that one day too late as my old boss in the wine trade used to say to me. (2242 views) | |
| Tasted by ccarter5181 on 7/9/2022 & rated 91 points: 15 min decant (cork broke on extraction). Excellent overall. Good concentration and complexity on the nose and palate. Less American oak vanilla flavors than usual for a Rioja. Drank over 90 minutes, was getting better at the end. I will wait a bit before opening the next bottle and will decant longer. (1951 views) | |
| Tasted by PSPatrick on 3/9/2022 & rated 92 points: Dark and some red fruit, blueberry, dark cherry, cocoa, chocolate, espresso, spices, liquorice, dill, and light balsamic notes, with fine, firm tannin, good acidity, and superb length. The concentrated, well-structured and well balanced wine was tight and restrained upon opening, but opened up and became very mineral after three hours in the decanter. Very integrated and harmonious on day two. I have not had a bottle since five years, but like any great wine the 2010 Muga Reserva Especial drank well upon release, and continues to drink well as it matures. That said, it is still young and primary, and will reward patience. Drink now after three hours of aeration, or hold. (2409 views) | |
| Tasted by jaumealaska on 2/27/2022 & rated 91 points: Drinking well. Purple minus color no bricking; seemed clear. Expressive nose of plum and licorice and leather. Palate was balanced with dark fruit and partially resolved tannins and medium finish. In a good place with time left but no need to wait (2220 views) | |
| Tasted by Dennis S on 2/20/2022 & rated 93 points: Rich deep dark red in color. Well balanced paired well with Spanish which is what we had (2117 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 1/17/2022 & rated 89 points: Même après 2 heures de carafe c`est costaud et dense. Beaucoup de notes empyreumatiques, café, chocolat, tabac entre autres. Prunes et cassis avec du poivres et des herbes. Les tannins sont charnus et la finale super longue avec une légère chauffe. Jeune et en a beaucoup sous la pédale. (3148 views) | |
| Tasted by NickBurwood on 1/16/2022 & rated 90 points: From magnum. 90pts now even after a long aerated decant but certainly 90+?+ potential given more cellar time in this format. Hold till 2024 (at least). (2228 views) | |
| Tasted by elevwine on 11/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Drank over two nights. Opened slowly, perhaps 1-2 hours. Just as good or better on day 2. Notes from Larms and Stoic Warrior right on point. Plenty of time left on this. (2233 views) | |
| Tasted by jocelyng on 11/5/2021 & rated 90 points: I still like it but it’s really on the decline. (2355 views) | |
| Tasted by larms on 9/18/2021 & rated 92 points: Drank as a ‘Rioja tasting’ accompanied by a 2009 Erudito and a 2011 CVNE imperial Reserve. Drank both without food and with Spanish meatballs in a paprika-tomato sauce. This is in a brilliant place right now. Beautiful cherry notes with balsamic and mint on the nose giving way to a soft and plush palate complete with hints of anise and soaked black leather. While not particularly racy, this delivered with a round mouthfeel and mild acidity that enabled an extremely pleasant balance of red fruit and spice to tempt the palate. This was a unanimous wine of the night and is in a great place right now. It has the guts to continue several years without hesitation however it will not disappoint should your patience falter. (2585 views) | |
| Tasted by Ribera74 on 8/20/2021 & rated 92 points: Mycket fräsch doft av mörka och röda bär, vanilj, örter, läder Smak går i samma spår, mörka och röda bär, men också pigga syror, mjuka tanniner, vanilj och lite läder, smaken stannar kvar i gommen hyfsat länge men skulle vilja ha den lite längre. Elegant vin men skulle vilja ha lite mer av allt, dock väldigt bra och fint. (2493 views) | |
| Tasted by Blodhorn on 6/14/2021 & rated 93 points: Fantastiskt vin med god doft och smak. Mjuka tanniner som smekte gommen och varade länge i munnen. Säkert på sin peak nu men varar säkert ca 5 år till. (2880 views) | |
| Tasted by BobMcK on 5/23/2021: Remarkably fresh fruity and vivacious (2520 views) | |
| Tasted by Stoic Warrior on 3/30/2021 & rated 93 points: Second bottle from case; I opened the 1st one 3 years ago, but that was too soon (no note posted then). Bright ruby colour; wonderful aroma of cherries and toast. Decanted for 3 hours, tasting occasionally. (For me the 2 hour mark was the "sweet spot", but it drank well all evening.) Mouth-filling flavours of tart cherries over gently sweet oak and vanilla. Very welcoming. Quite vibrant acidity, with a touch of balsamic, which lingers. Tannins are fairly well subdued. Long, lingering finish. An enjoyable wine. (2965 views) | |
| Tasted by casoe on 3/14/2021 & rated 90 points: Well made wine, but much too heavy for my taste. Nice acidity, but bordering cooked fruit. Not my kind of Rioja. (2810 views) | |
| Tasted by Bob23 on 1/25/2021 & rated 91 points: Too young yet - still pretty oaky. (2905 views) | |
| Tasted by VinhoVerde on 11/2/2020 & rated 90 points: Dark red color. Black cherry and tea bouquet. Smooth, rich, ripe rounded fruit flavors in the entry and mid-palate. Very rich. Hint of oak and long aftertaste. Enjoyable now and remarkably youthful. Some moderate tannin in the finish, will continue to evolve for 3-5 more years. This is a really good value. (3435 views) | |
| Tasted by Jacek P on 10/13/2020 & rated 92 points: 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo, interesting blend. Well balanced, great aroma and finish. Still no sign of aging. Perhaps I should keep it longer. Very good wine (3184 views) | |
| Tasted by Alexroy on 9/20/2020 & rated 92 points: Bright cherries, long, sweet. Lovely. (2929 views) | |
| Tasted by Vine on 7/27/2020 & rated 93 points: Alas...my last bottle of 6 purchased. With BBQ beef tenderloin. A match made in heaven and a superb bottle of wine. This has got to be one of the best price / quality wines in the world. Super...and drinking beautifully now. (3291 views) | |
| Tasted by Alexroy on 7/26/2020 & rated 92 points: Love this wine. Very modern Rioja. Rich, smooth, lovely balance, vanilla, ripe red fruit. (2687 views) | |
| Tasted by HU on 7/4/2020 & rated 93 points: In perfect temperature with BBQ on a hot summer night. Full-bodied, intense, spicy with notes of honey and pepper. Loved it. And I am often disappointed by Rioja. (2542 views) | |
| Tasted by Mark van Delft on 6/17/2020 & rated 92 points: Excellent Rioja, superb QPR: Prune, cedar, blackberries, balsamic note, chewy tannins, vanilla, graphite, medium to full body, strong long finish (2644 views) | |
| Tasted by pgb67 on 6/10/2020 & rated 92 points: Rich, concentrated flavors and mouthfeel but well balanced - really a heavy hitter that serves notice. Expressive fruit (black cherry, prune) offset with a nice tobacco component that lends some sophistication. Plenty of life left in it, but humming just fine right now. (2659 views) | |
| Tasted by Dubbadevan on 5/27/2020 & rated 90 points: Delicious wine but doesn’t drink like a Rioja. Reminded me of a Napa cab with very slight old world flavors. Dark fruit, great depth but limited earth that I expect from Rioja. Could likely cellar for another 5 years. (2540 views) | |
| Tasted by tunaguy on 5/25/2020 flawed bottle: flawed heat damage. becoming a trend with wines from costco (2665 views) | |
| Tasted by Alexroy on 4/11/2020 & rated 93 points: Lovely modern Rioja, deep luscious purple fruit. Medium to long. (2645 views) | |
| Tasted by ChateauDutremble on 4/7/2020 & rated 95 points: Awesome vintage...a beautiful Rioja!! Nez complexe de cuir, vieille barrique...épices à bois, fruits noirs, café torréfié...et parfumé...pot-pourri...superbe ! Saveurs dominantes de fruits mûrs et de grillé. Un vin ample et rond, chaleureux avec une longue finale. Délicieux...dans son apogée et excellent QRP (CA$37.50 SAQ fév. 2015) (2800 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 2/24/2020 & rated 92 points: Double decanted about an hour before serving. Nose was initially closed in as was the initial taste. Opened up a bit after about 2 hours, but was much better on the second day when it was a bit fruit forward with wonderful black cherries, plums, spices, and a touch of wood. I think this wine is currently in somewhat of a dumb stage and needs time to open up. (2884 views) | |
| Tasted by Scottwhipp on 1/6/2020 & rated 93 points: Really enjoyed this wine. Soft and smooth mouthfeel with low tannin. Not overly fruit forward, typical of old world style wine, which pairs nicely with food. We paired this wine with paella, in keeping with the Spanish theme, which turned out to be an excellent pairing. Flavors of dried cherries and plums, leather and some dusty earthiness. (3299 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 10/27/2019 & rated 93 points: Double decanted about 2 hours before serving with pot roast. Dark purple, intense cassis, plums, leather and a touch of wood on the nose and initial flavors. Well defined mid-range and excellent finish. I have had this wine on several occasions and it continues to improve. It will be interesting to compare with the 2011, 2012, and 2014. Perhaps it is heresy, but for the price, this wine approaches the quality of the Prado Eneas. (3488 views) | |
| Tasted by Alexroy on 9/13/2019 & rated 93 points: Full, blueberries, dark fruit, smooth. Lovely. (3468 views) | |
| Tasted by Tauro on 7/7/2019 & rated 91 points: Much better than the bottle I drank 4 months ago. Deep red fruits, well balanced with a nice length. (3810 views) | |
| Tasted by jocelyng on 5/18/2019 & rated 92 points: Blackberry, cassis,followed with plum. Oaky sweet tannins. (3788 views) | |
| Tasted by Mhbeaune on 5/13/2019 & rated 90 points: Double decanted for 2 hours. Full round nose but not fruit driven. Everything is in place and quite long in the mouth. Will definitely develop a lot lot more in the coming years. I will wait another 3-5 years and fully expect to be rewarded with a more seductive style. Could prove to be quite stunning. (3775 views) | |
| Tasted by Tauro on 5/3/2019 & rated 90 points: The wine never really opened up. Agressive and too alcoholic, expectations were maybe set too high. Will wait a few more years before my next one. (3181 views) | |
| Tasted by Swaggering Beaunie on 4/28/2019: Very good, with the expected flavors of black cherry, orange peel, and florals, but in contrast to a previous reviewer, I'd characterize this as still very young and primary, and "modern" in profile; the oak and acidity are still prominent. I don't know if my bottle was representative, but I'd say that, based on this bottle, the wine is still 8 to 10 years away from its prime drinking window. It was certainly pleasant nonetheless. We had this with roasted pork butt, escalloped potatoes, and sauteed asparagus, and it was a worthy accompaniment. If I had more bottles, though, I'd wait quite a few years before opening them. (3212 views) | |
| Tasted by grapenomad on 4/10/2019 & rated 89 points: Black and red fruit dominant with hints of oak. Full, juicy with high alcohol. A bit unbalanced in the end. Sweet, glossy texture. Lasting aftertaste. (3286 views) | |
| Tasted by Carlisa88 on 3/3/2019 & rated 92 points: Medium to full bodied. With steak off the grill, just about perfect. Dried fruit notes followed up with balsamic, spice and then earthy undertones - more classical Rioja than modern. Had a bottle 5 years ago, was more modern than classical back then - like the way this has developed. Drinking perfect now (2864 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 2/4/2019 & rated 93 points: Served this wine at dinner along with the 2006 Muga Prado Enea and the 2011 Emilio Moro Malleous. This was the only wine decanted prior to serving and was exceptional this night. Plums and leather, well balanced acidity and a long finish I am pleased that I have more of these. This was also the best wine of the evening as the Prado Enea remained closed in and should be been decanted. (3040 views) | |
| Tasted by Margaux Bro on 2/4/2019 & rated 89 points: Lackluster, not a ton of complexity. Spend a little more and get LdH Tondonia next time around (3006 views) | |
| Tasted by m.lupus on 12/4/2018 & rated 85 points: Too much new world and vanilla for my old-fashioned taste buds. Hard to believe it's from the same producer who also makes Prado Enea, which is terrific. (3995 views) | |
| Tasted by Vine on 11/25/2018 & rated 93 points: Super wine - beautiful nose; lovely in the mouth. Decant this - lots of sediment. (3323 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 10/24/2018 & rated 93 points: As with similar bottles of this wine consumed over the past 2 years, this bottle was excellent. Served with pot roast. Good fruit, plums and spices in the initial flavors, good acidity and mouthfeel, and excellent finish. I look forward to finishing the case over several years. (3263 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeffyboy on 10/20/2018 & rated 91 points: dark colour with amaranth rim. nose: ripe macerated fruits. PLums, blueberries; some tart notes. Developing. taste: blueberries, sweet cherries; ripe light tannins; medium (+) acidity. Very elegant and alive. Excellent. (3081 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 9/17/2018 & rated 93 points: Double decanted about 2 hours before serving with grilled, prime ribeye steak. This wine is excellent. Initial nose and flavors of caramel, spice, and berries, excellent acidity and wine, long flavors. This is my 4th bottle of this vintage and bottling and all have been excellent to outstanding. (3566 views) | |
| Tasted by guy12 on 8/20/2018 & rated 89 points: Still young,lots of improvement to come for the patient (3354 views) | |
| Tasted by Margaux Bro on 8/7/2018 & rated 92 points: Dependable rioja... even if a little on the oaky side (3783 views) | |
| Tasted by Canoehead on 7/12/2018 & rated 92 points: Very solid wine in its toddler stage right now. Pronounced nose of sweet dark red fruit and licorice. The palate is muted with some pronounced young tannins (7+ yrs old!). Medium + body and good medium + finish. Will definitely store a few for a future paper bag challenge against Bordeaux and Brunello... (3894 views) | |
| Tasted by rupertg on 6/5/2018 & rated 91 points: Beautiful ruby rim, dark centre, minimal sediment. Great nose of oak and fruit, true to the taste. Silky and rounded mouthful. Bit of tannin on the finish, but fruit predominates. Delicious. Drinking well now but would keep. Oak and vanilla emerge once it's been open for a while. (3983 views) | |
| Tasted by jkvedar on 5/30/2018 & rated 90 points: Mature Rioja. Vanilla on the nose. Very well-balanced on the palate. Lingering finish. This one is ready anytime! (3958 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 5/17/2018 & rated 90 points: Il n'a pas bougé, encore boisé et fruité mais très gouteux. (4013 views) | |
| Tasted by casoe on 5/16/2018 & rated 89 points: An inky dark powefull wine that has lots of tannins and acidity to balance the dark sweet berries and american oak. But somehow it just doesn’t add up for me to a nice and balanced experience. Perhaps it is just still much too young, but the 5 times I’ve tried this over the last 2-3 years it has been consistently unimpressive. (3490 views) | |
| Tasted by redders on 4/6/2018 & rated 90 points: Deep coloured deeply fruited nose some gloss. Rich deep high quality but very young. Interesting to see how this develops (4249 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 3/12/2018 & rated 90 points: Similaires à mes autres, pour les prix, belle matière et beau fruit...juste le boisé qui pourrait plus s'intégrer....à revoir. (3923 views) | |
| Tasted by Tim and Bonnie on 3/11/2018 & rated 91 points: Bonnie loves this wine, so I asked her to tell me why. BTW, she had served herself from the decanter in the kitchen and came back with a HUGE pour. I didn’t say anything, but I was definitely interested as to why. Here’s how the convo went. Tim: Hon, I’m thinking you like this wine, how would you describe it? Bonnie: I like how the tannins coat your whole mouth, not just the sides or the top, and I’m not sure what you meant by “dusty tannins” but I think I get it. I also like that it’s got kind of a dark fruit flavor, but it’s not pruney, and it’s not too sweet. Tim: What do you mean, specifically? Bonnie: It’s like the fruit is there, but it’s more acidy, and I really like that. And it doesn’t have too much of that gnarly taste (she meant Old World), just enough. Tim: How do you compare it to the Juan Gil blue label yesterday and the Amarone we had with Liz last week? Bonnie: I like this better. I don’t need to have food with it, I can just drink it. Tim: One of your favorite wines for the price? Bonnie: Yes She downplays her abilities, but Bonnie has a keen nose and palate for good wine. She rated it 91, and thus it sticks. (3798 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 2/4/2018 & rated 90 points: Assez intense, approchable mais encore jeune. Nez sur les cerises et le cuir avec uin peu de terre. En bouche, belle acidité avec tannins serrés. Pas mal de fruits noirs et épices avec encore du bois. Long et complexe. (3817 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 2/4/2018 & rated 93 points: Double decanted and served with grilled T-bone steak. Nose of plums, spice, touch of blackberries with full mouthfeel, mid-range and excellent finish. This is an excellent Muga Seleccion and a considerable step up from the very good Muga Reservas. One of those wines in which you think you should buy more that the case or so on hand. Should hold for 10 years or so. (3883 views) | |
| Tasted by Yagil on 1/26/2018 & rated 90 points: Clear, deep claret Clean, profound intensity of dry prunes and cherries, leather, earth, herbaceous spices Dry, high acidity, high tannins, full body, excellent balance, structured, complexed, long finish. Ready to drink, can further age 10-30 years. (3686 views) | |
| Tasted by Zweder on 1/16/2018 & rated 92 points: Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow" #025 Rioja (By MN): In the bouquet dark berries, herbs, vanilla, cedar and chocolate. On the palate a firm wine with a lot of acidity and bitterness. Dark cherries, licorice, cedar, cigar and tannin with still a lot of bite. Much more classical than the Artadi which stood beside it in the same flight. This can easily last until 2025+. 92+ for tonight. (4242 views) | |
| Tasted by rwthomps7 on 12/24/2017: 3 (3484 views) | |
| Tasted by K&J on 8/8/2017 & rated 94 points: Bold, luscious Rioja! Complex character. (5539 views) | |
| Tasted by la turque on 7/21/2017 & rated 93 points: Rustic, sweet tannins, nice fruit, well balanced. (5439 views) | |
| Tasted by Rollerball on 7/15/2017 & rated 91 points: Great producer does not disappoint. (5366 views) | |
| Tasted by Margaux Bro on 6/5/2017 & rated 93 points: Fantastic QPR, and always dependable. This needs an hour plus decant, and could also benefit from a few more years in the cellar. Will buy more for under $30 (5762 views) | |
| Tasted by Zweder on 5/29/2017 & rated 91 points: Weekly tasting group RWP #259: Spain (@ The factory by AH): Not so many notes this time. In the bouquet dark berries and chocolate. On the palate dark and red berries and cherries, chocolate, a firm amount of good acidity and round tannin. (5795 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 5/7/2017 & rated 91 points: Double decanted about 5 hours before serving and served with rubbed and grilled Flatiron steak. Dark purple, the nose remained stubbornly closed, but intense fruit of plums and blackberries characterized the initial and mid-range flavors. Excellent length. Having had this wine on multiple occasions, I think it continues to have considerable promise but needs a year or two at least to begin to open up and demonstrate its virtues. (4338 views) | |
| Tasted by Thumper88 on 5/6/2017 & rated 90 points: Bought at total wine $34: very nice, nice medium finish, have not had enough tempranillo to give lower or higher (4093 views) | |
| Tasted by Procurare on 3/11/2017 & rated 91 points: Last night at Capital Grill and off the list. Reasonable value. Just about, but not yet ready - a decant would have helped a bit. Inky black. The nose was strong with cedar, rocks, smoke and dark fruit. The attack was strong with cherry, bit of blue cheese and sweet tannan. Balance was nice but leaned a bit on its tannan. Finish was medium. A: 5 N: 8 B: 8 T: 16 F: 4 91 (4890 views) | |
| Tasted by jocelyng on 3/4/2017 & rated 93 points: An 89-90 wine at bottle opening but one hour of carafe makes all the difference. Drink now ( after one hour of carafe !) to appreciate the lovely fruit flavors or maybe wait a few years ? So good right now ! (4321 views) | |
| Tasted by Miles95 on 2/24/2017: Parker93 (4433 views) | |
| Tasted by PSPatrick on 2/16/2017 & rated 91 points: I poured the wine into a decanter and followed its development over a period of five hours. The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered red and some dark fruit, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, spices, anise and mild herbal notes on the nose and palate, complemented by underlying mineral notes, with good, fresh acidity, fine, ripe, well-integrated medium-plus tannin and very good length. This medium- to full-bodied Rioja was balanced and well-structured and should age very well. It benefited from extended aeration, yet remained less expressive than the bottle I had about a year ago. Will reward patience. (4529 views) | |
| Tasted by mkporwit on 2/7/2017 & rated 92 points: Still fruity, with strong tannins. Needs more time (4827 views) | |
| Tasted by bitdrerik on 2/3/2017 flawed bottle: Muga þvert og endilangt (Njálsgata 6): Strax og þessi flaska var opnuð þá var mjög grunsamleg lykt af tappanum. Þurfti svo ekki nema einn sopa til að finna að hún var korkuð fyrir allan peninginn. Ógeðslega pirrandi. Samt ákveðið gildi í smakki að finna hvernig korkað vín ilmar og er á bragðið. (4488 views) | |
| Tasted by SmithTXX on 1/21/2017 & rated 89 points: Bottle may have not been stored properly. Would like to try again, but at that price, probably wont. (4059 views) | |
| Tasted by jocelyng on 12/16/2016 & rated 93 points: Excellent now. Plum, dark cherry. Toasted oak and full bodied, yet supple. Sweet tannins. Long with great finish. (4681 views) | |
| Tasted by Whistler Whino on 12/2/2016 & rated 90 points: Decanted for an hour, and that made all the difference. You really can't go wrong here for $30. A good all around wine showing notes of red fruits and berries, leather and earth. (4684 views) | |
| Tasted by johnrm on 11/18/2016 & rated 92 points: Superb classic Rioja. Decanted 2h prior. Excellent nose. The palate shows all the fruit, balance, spice, complexity, length expected. Good value for the quality. (4646 views) | |
| Tasted by RussK on 9/17/2016 & rated 90 points: Russk. Stacole tasting at the Moore building. 90+. (5523 views) | |
| Tasted by bitdrerik on 9/8/2016 & rated 92 points: Mín leið í gegnum Haugen smakkið (Gamla Bíó): Svo fékk ég að bragða á þessu víni. Aldeilis stórgott vín. Rosalega flott jafnvægi og kraftur. Á enn eftir að bæta sig held ég. Á tímabili var hægt að fá það í fríhöfninni á 4,5k en nú held ég að það sé dottið út. Greinilega hægt að sérpanta það en kostar þá 6,3k. (5764 views) | |
| Tasted by CondorKhan on 9/1/2016 & rated 90 points: Pours deep red going towards inky purple. On the nose, blackberry, leather, cedar. Kind of fresh and fruity at the moment, with deep blackberry and blackcurrants, balanced by some leather, baking spices, tobacco and a good, mouthwatering acidity. Definitely very young. (4925 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 8/21/2016: Rioja Flight (SF Wine Trading Company): Dark ruby. Fragrant cassis fruit, quite Bordelaise. Complex in the mouth-lots of coffee, smoke, and olive tones. Great mouth coating feel cut by terrific framing acidity. This retains a sense of restraint and elegance despite the concentration. Very good length. My only quibble is that the wood asserts itself strongly in the finish, but this too is excellent. (5663 views) | |
| Tasted by brianngibson on 8/15/2016 & rated 92 points: Solid, mid-priced Rioja with a classic profile of cherry, oak and tobacco. (5091 views) | |
| Tasted by shleepy on 8/5/2016 & rated 93 points: Quite a dark ruby color. Possibly some shade of purple in there, but none of the "old Rioja" brick tint. Plum and dark berries in the smell. Taste is balanced, with a pleasant acidity, lots slightly unripe fruit, and an almond-like nuttiness. Very complex and interesting... But more importantly, surprising and refreshing, especially for a Rioja. (6104 views) | |
| Tasted by dead puddle on 7/9/2016: Nose gives a first impression of new oak cabernet, with extracted red berries, sap, hint of dairy strawberries. But the cherries note behing gives a direction to southern Europe. Mouth is super fruity in the american way : industrial blueberries sirup, with gentle acidity, nice tannins. Nice length. The style is for to popular for me. Still a kind of finesse, but lacking "noblesse". Not for old school tasters. Perfect to seduce a californian surfer. (5113 views) | |
| Tasted by johnh1001 on 7/4/2016 & rated 93 points: Really good tonight. Bright and fresh red fruit with a touch of oak and mustard seed. Smooth with nice earth on the palate. (5480 views) | |
| Tasted by Purple Tooth on 6/11/2016 & rated 89 points: This is a nice wine, but because of the higher extraction, it lacks the elegance of the regular Muga Reserva, and lacks the umph of Torre Muga puts it in limbo within the Muga lineup. Its very lively with acidity, and has traces of coffee and cedar weaving in and out of the nose. In the mouth, its tart, savory, and long. Unfortunately, I found nothing "Special" about this Reserva Especial. I would not drink this yet and invest some hope into better days ahead for this wine, even though the tannins are not overly abundant. We will have to bank on some of that lively acidity to keep things going and propped up...Hold (5483 views) | |
| Tasted by humagne on 6/9/2016 & rated 94 points: The nose is complex, spices herbs red fruit, vanillin oak. Very structured and plenty of focussed acidity as well as tannins. Long finish. This is an amazing quality and it will hold! (5377 views) | |
| Tasted by KJD45$ on 5/26/2016 & rated 91 points: Deep darkest Crimson....legs for dayz.....earthy cherry, alcohol,vanilla, blackberry, clean precise aromas....flavor is big cherry blackberry tannic mouth...long big finish....wine needs time but what a blockbuster this may become.... (5292 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 5/23/2016 & rated 93 points: Double decanted about 4 hours before serving and served with grilled and marinated sirloin steak. A bit fruit forward with plums, blackberries, and wood with some complexity, even at this young age. An excellent, intense, Rioja and I am very glad I purchased 2 cases. Look forward to drinking these over the next 15-20 years. (5173 views) | |
| Tasted by mnewzs on 5/21/2016 & rated 91 points: really like this wine (4792 views) | |
| Tasted by Motz on 5/19/2016 & rated 93 points: Drank over two days, alongside a 2001 Faustino I Gran Reserva and a 2010 Produttori del Barbaresco (normale). This wine held its own with tremendous richness and weight. The bouquet features purple berries, dried figs, hot black stones, herbs, black earth, sappiness, deep muscle (purple) beef, smoke, coal, and nutty notes. There is also a pleasant oxidative element, as one might expect in quality Rioja. Expansive mouthfeel, weighty texture, substantive structure. The wine's earth and mineral driven depth imparted an impression of viscosity. The oxidate element is perhaps a touch more pronounced on the palate. It paired nicely with Manchego and uncured Pastrami. A young wine that likely requires a 12 to 15+ year maturation period. Rock solid! (5118 views) | |
| Tasted by pdev on 4/11/2016 & rated 91 points: dusty cherry, fairly modern styling, good tannic structure, elegant, needs plenty of time in the cellar. Lovely. (5332 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 4/10/2016 & rated 93 points: My third bottle of this wine. Double decanted about 3 hours before serving and served with grilled NY strip steak. I like the Muga style from the Reserve to the Prado Enea and for the price difference, at least in 2010, the Seleccion Especiale is worth the difference in price from the Reserve. Initial rush of cassis, berries, and spice followed immediately by tannins largely hidden underneath the fruit, and a longer finish. Look forward to drinking these over the next 10 years or so and strongly recommend this wine at its current price. (4936 views) | |
| Tasted by jigones on 3/28/2016 flawed bottle: Maybe we had a bad bottle, but it was really green and sour. The oak that was then came over top and made this almost undrinkable. I'll have to try a different bottle or vintage. (5338 views) | |
| Tasted by mwneil on 3/27/2016 & rated 93 points: I like Muga wines. Balanced, complex, smooth tannins, drank easily, good fruit, enjoyed with a rib roast, will drink again. (5225 views) | |
| Tasted by macaujames on 3/26/2016 & rated 92 points: This was the best of the Muga range. But I thought that it was nowhere near as developed as the 96 Decanter score and was a little bit perplexed. Perhaps it should be lain down 3-4 years or have been aerated longer. It had aromas of flowers, blueberries, vanilla, smoke, leather, blackberries, red cherries and liquorice. Its medium bodied structured and luxuriously fruited blue, black and red fruits palate has a huge whack of oak as well as good acidity on the plush and layered middle. Ends very long, freshly fruited and quite tannic. What do you think? (5770 views) | |
| Tasted by Zweder on 3/21/2016 & rated 92 points: Weekly tasting group #207; Spain: Rioja vs Ribera del Duero plus one great pirate! (@ RW): In the bouquet dark forest fruits, roasted coffee, chocolate and some green herbs. On the palate sweet and ripe dark forest fruits like blackberries and blackcurrants and cherries, licorice, chocolate, vanilla, herbs and spices as well as animals. Beautiful acidity and beautifully round, slightly sticky tannin. A wine with many layers, a great harmony and length. Early maturity now and a promise for the future. A score of 92+ for this evening, but around 2022 this might be a bit higher. Great wine! (5639 views) | |
| Tasted by Norrie on 3/20/2016: Decant for 60mins -minimum (4502 views) | |
| Tasted by PSPatrick on 2/27/2016 & rated 91 points: We poured the wine into a decanter, had the first glasses immediately and followed the wine’s development over a period of three hours. It was dark ruby in colour and offered red and dark berries, dark chocolate, anise and smoke on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red and dark berries, herbal notes, anise, chocolate and ethereal notes, complemented by smoky mineral notes and mild saltiness, with lively, medium-level acidity, fine, ripe, medium to medium-plus tannin and very good length. The medium-bodied wine was tight, with good concentration and complexity, smooth and incredibly balanced. Great wine! Good value. (5234 views) | |
| Tasted by Rieslingfan on 2/27/2016: Dark, brooding and yet encouraging. It shows enough of its deep cherry and berry fruit and complex spices to draw me in. Lots of time needed here. The balance is good, so the future looks bright. (4971 views) | |
| Tasted by sigge on 2/24/2016 & rated 92 points: Deep dark homogeneous red. Broad, fresh and intense nose with dark cherries, toast and coffee -a bit young and closed. Soft silky opening that get more and more intense and leaves a dry, woody, tannic and long finish, surprisingly long finish. Needs some more years. (5074 views) | |
| Tasted by VDLT Wine on 2/20/2016: From Tina, with tapas at Plancha. Unable to give it the decant and air time it needs. Sat in the glass for about an hour, which helped it spread out and demonstrate its classy pedigree. Dominated by tannins and mostly primary, but not hard to appreciate. (4656 views) | |
| Tasted by Ken332 on 2/16/2016 & rated 93 points: Double decanted about 2 hours before serving. I have been drinking the Muga Reserva's from 2006-2011. I also have the 2005 and 2006 Prado Enea Grand Reservas. This 2010 is quite a step up from the 2010 reserve and is characterized by an intense nose of cassis, blueberries, and wood with excellent, full midrange and excellent length and finish. There are moderate tannins in the mid range and finish that are noticeable but not bitter nor off putting. This a very good wine and value, although the Prado Eneas (2005 and 2006 ) are better wines. This wine will continue to evolve for 3-5 years and should continue to improve. I think Gutierrez from the Wine Advocate judged this wine correctly at 93+. Gutierrez indicates that this wine from Muga is from higher vineyards and older vines than the Reserve; hence the greater intensity. (4708 views) | |
| Tasted by Phenol73 on 1/7/2016 & rated 90 points: Rich, dark, dense, if fairly simple. The grenache (20%) is really notable, with aromas of blackberries, figs, ginger, clove and plum. A full-bodied mouthfeel, nice acidity, and tannins become quite pronounced and drying after a couple of hours of airtime. Reliable as ever, but better in 3/4 years after tannins have integrated and dissolved more. (5288 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeffyboy on 1/5/2016 & rated 92 points: blackberry-prune colour, bit dark with lighter rim. nose: blueberries, blackberries; some macerated fruits; very good one - balanced but seductive. taste: soft with very ripe tannins, softly; macerated fruits - cherries and blueberries. Very long finish with nutty-mushroom accents. all over excellent. (4741 views) | |
| Tasted by Markus IWC on 11/21/2015 & rated 87 points: Klassisk Rioja karaktär med tydliga ekfatstoner, vanilj, lite dill. Mörk tung frukt, lite syrlig och strävt slut. Trevligt vin. (1924 views) | |
| Tasted by Latch on 11/20/2015 & rated 91 points: Dark color, hints of lavender and coffee. Slight musky initially though opened up well after proactive decanting (5040 views) | |
| Tasted by Phenol73 on 11/18/2015 & rated 92 points: (Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2015) :: Lifted, dark fruits, cocoa, mint and flowers. Lovely complexity and concentration. Still fairly primary and will benefit from some bottle age. Good mouthfeel, with a med+ finish and sweet, soft tannins. (4792 views) | |
| Tasted by WineCuentista on 11/11/2015 & rated 90 points: Appearance: Clear wine with a medium ruby colour. Nose: Clean nose with a Medium intensity. This wine is developing. Quite fresh on the nose considering this wine is 5 years old now. Ripe strawberries and blackberries over traditional vanilla, nutmeg and just a hint of caramel. A fresh herbaceous tobacco-leaf note is lurking underneath. Palate: Dry Medium+ acidity Medium+ tannins Medium+ alcohol Medium+ intensity Medium body Medium+ finish Even fresher on the palate! A real vibrant berry compote and sweet spice flavour, supported by a fresh acidity and smooth tannins. Really lovely. Excellent quality Tempranillo blend from Rioja. Can be drank now but will surely develop further complexity over the next 1-8 years. At 25 euros a bottle, good QPR. (4844 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 11/9/2015 & rated 90 points: Bu à La Grande Dégustation de Montréal. Nez sur le café et les épices. En bouche des notes de terre, un peu de fruit et de l`élevage. Finale longue un brin capiteuse. (4566 views) | |
| Tasted by BobMcK on 10/4/2015: Tasted at winery: lots of fruit with strong elegant tannins. Lots of ageing potential (4759 views) | |
| Tasted by BSA on 10/4/2015 & rated 91 points: Smoke, vanilla, cigar and lots of ripe dark berries. Dense and plush. Young obviously, with great potential. Paired excellent with roast of lamb. 91-93 (4146 views) | |
| Tasted by Askvig on 9/25/2015 & rated 92 points: Dufter av mørke bær og plommer med hint av krydder og tre. Saftig og fyldig på smak med en flott konsentrasjon og lange balanserte tanniner. Bruksområde: Okse og lam (4354 views) | |
| Tasted by gmtaylor on 9/23/2015 & rated 90 points: DHWine. Cherry-red wine with a red berry nose. On the palate: red/black berries, notes of jasmine, a tad tannic without food and short on the finish. Better with food (tasted with blue cheese, sun-dried peppers, Spanish tortilla, ham and cured meat sausage). (4142 views) | |
| Tasted by bitdrerik on 8/15/2015 & rated 93 points: Fífa og Atli komu með þessa í matarboð. Drukkin á eftir Tommasi Rafael. Talsvert meira vín. Jarðartónar í ilmi. Líka hnetur. Í munni mikil kirsuber og brómber. Tannín ennþá áberandi. Mjög dökkt á litinn. Virkilega glæsilegt vín. Á líklega ennþá 2-3 ár í að ná fullum þroska. Ætti svo að vera góð í a.m.k. 10 ár í viðbót. (4569 views) | |
| Tasted by Tire-bouchon Griffin on 7/21/2015 & rated 93 points: À mon avis, l’une des meilleures bouteilles d’Espagne sous la barre des 25 dollars disponible à la SAQ. Le Muga est un vin de Rioja dominé par le Tempranillo à 70% et assemblé avec du grenache, graciano et mazuelo. Il en découle un vin au parfum intense de fruits noirs de torréfaction, d’épices et de notes animales. La bouche est généreuse, sapide et gorgé de fruits et d’épices doux. On ne s’en lasse pas et il est possible de le laisser vieillir au cellier plus de 8 ans suivant le millésime. (4424 views) | |
| Tasted by nectar14 on 7/18/2015 & rated 91 points: Dense and youthful dark purple. Cigar, ripe cherry, some baking spice. Long on the back end, but needs plenty of time. Upside is big on this one. 91+ (4253 views) | |
| Tasted by JenEm on 6/26/2015 & rated 88 points: Deep raspberry color medium legs. On the nose,fruit and earth. Dried cherry, and herb. Tannins. (4192 views) | |
| Tasted by depechemoroder on 6/19/2015 & rated 89 points: Big but elegant wine that looks like crushed blackberries - be sure not to spill this one! Amidst the black cherry, plums, blackberries, smoked herbs, tobacco, and ash, there is a lot of style here and a finish that is almost cordial like in its concentration of flavour (but not sugar). Weak point is the middle palate, which is a bit underwhelming. This needs time. Another five years in the cellar and I expect a true star to be born. (4256 views) | |
| Tasted by grenache lover on 12/30/2014 & rated 91 points: From the last trully excellent vintage in Rioja (2010), this Muga Reserva Selección Especial has been awarded with too much oak which is clogging the fruit. Give it some air and you can feel the fruit fighting for its life but the charcoal, the toasted notes and the oaky tannins are winning the battle at the moment. The wine displays 14% alcohol in the label, and the mouth is balanced. Actually, the wine drinks well and it will be of appeal to wine drinkers in search of oaky reds. I just prefer my wines to come from fruit than from oak. I scored it 89 based on this experience. I edited my original note to say that, on day 3, with just the cork back to the bottle which sat on the counter, the wine displays more fruit and the oak seems more integrated. A better wine, I think. Therefore, I have updated my score from 89 to 91 because the wine is well made and it gets more balanced with oxygen. Take into account if you prefer less oaky reds. (5436 views) | |
| Tasted by AV2012 on 10/29/2014 & rated 88 points: Extensive Spanish tasting: Of course darker colour than Reserva. More extracted, very fruity, juicy berries. Soft, elegant, this is modern but of good quality. (5090 views) |
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Bodegas MugaProducer websiteU.S. Importer (Addt'l Info) Tempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly. Selección Especial*Wine that showcase the varietal characteristic*Quality wines to drink on any occasion SpainVinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | WikipediaWine Map on weinlagen-info Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info. La RiojaConsejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. RiojaMap on weinlagen-info La Rioja AltaMap on weinlagen-infoRiojaConsejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. RiojaHISTORY The wine region of La Rioja in Spain was first demarcated by the area's governing body, the Consejo Regulador, in 1926. The region extends for approximately 120 kilometres along both sides of the Ebro River and is, at its widest point, bounded by mountains on either side. In fact, the word 'Rioja' is a derivation of the two words 'Rio' (River) and 'Oja (the name of a tributary of the Ebro that runs right through La Rioja creating a series of microclimates and providing much needed water for the vines). La Rioja has always been a vital part of Spain's history. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, and finally, medieval Crusaders have all played a part in the area's history. The Romans, however, made wine a part of their culture wherever they travelled, and La Rioja was no exception. Ancient sites of Roman wineries still exist in and around the area today. After the Romans came the Moors, and winemaking all but ceased. It wasn't until after the famous 'El Cid' liberated Spain, and medieval Christianity brought trade via the Crusaders through the region, that it flourished again. The Benedictine monks of Cluny in Burgundy, known for their viticulture, helped to establish three monasteries in the area. The vines they planted were mostly white grapes. In the fourteenth century, English traders acquired a taste for a local Rioja wine, which was a blend of white and red wines called Blancos Pardillos. Over time, development of lighter reds came about satisfying eighteenth century English and French courts. The real improvements to Rioja's viticulture began around 1780 when the need to prolong wine during transport brought about experimentation with different woods and preservatives. Studies were made of the techniques used by great chateaux in Bordeaux. With the outbreak of the Peninsular War, progress was halted until 1852, when the Bordelais came south to Rioja seeking vines because their vineyards had been blighted with oidium. French winemaking methods were eagerly taken up by great rivals the Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal (who both claim to have been the first in Rioja to make wine in the Bordeaux fashion). When phylloxera devastated Bordeaux in the 1870s and the French influence really took hold in Rioja, many of the region's finest bodegas started production on what we now consider as the great wines of Rioja. It’s important to remember that Bordeaux winemaking methods then were very different to those employed today in France, and involved long ageing in barrel, a factor that the Riojans took up enthusiastically. So enthusiastically in fact that to this day there are a number of Bodegas that still make their wine in a surprisingly similar fashion to that of the Bordelais in the later part of the 1800s and this also explains why oak ageing is such an important part of Riojan winemaking. USE OF OAK Pronounced vanilla flavours in the wines are a trademark of the region though some modern winemakers are experimenting with making wines less influenced by oak. Originally French oak was used but as the cost of the barrels increased many bodegas began to buy American oak planks and fashion them into barrels at Spanish cooperages in a style more closely resembling the French method. This included hand splitting the wood, rather than sawing, and allowing the planks time to dry and 'season' in the outdoors versus drying in the kiln. In recent times, more bodegas have begun using French oak and many will age wines in both American and French oak for blending purposes. In the past, it was not uncommon for some bodegas to age their red wines for 15-20 years or even more before their release. One notable example of this is Marqués de Murrieta which released its 1942 vintage Gran Reserva in 1983 after 41 years of ageing. Today most bodegas have shifted their winemaking focus to wines that are ready to drink sooner with the top wines typically ageing for 4-8 years prior to release though some traditionalists still age longer. The typical bodega owns anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 oak barrels. The use of oak in white wine has declined significantly in recent times when before the norm was traditionally 2-5 years in oak. This created slightly oxidised wines with flavours of caramel, coffee, and roasted nuts that did not appeal to a large market of consumers. Today the focus of white winemakers has been to enhance the vibrancy and fruit flavours of the wine. WINE CLASSIFICATION Most Riojan Bodegas believe that the ageing of a wine should be the responsibility of the producer rather than that of the consumer, and this is why much Rioja is more mature than wines from other countries. Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labelled 'Rioja', or 'Sin Crianza' (meaning 'without ageing') is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "Crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which is in oak. 'Reserva' is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, 'Gran Reserva' wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessarily produced each year. Also produced are wines in a semi-crianza style, those that have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza. The designation of Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva might not always appear on the front label but may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo. SUB REGIONS Rioja Alta Located on the western edge of the region, and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known for more fruity and concentrated wines which can have very smooth texture and mouth feel. Rioja Alavesa Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity. Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil. Rioja Baja Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticultural hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 95°F. Twenty percent of the vineyards actually fall within the Navarra appellation but the wine produced from the grapes is still allowed to claim the Rioja designation. The predominant grape here is the Garnacha which prefers the hot conditions, unlike the more aromatic Tempranillo. Consequently Baja wines are very deeply coloured and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. The wines typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of the Rioja. The Riojans are master blenders (as they have to be because there are relatively few single estates in the area, the norm being to blend from a wide variety of vineyards and wine areas). Consequently they are able to reduce vintage variation by careful blending and many of the best wines vary relatively little between vintages. VITICULTURE & GRAPES Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). Rioja has a total of 57,000 hectares cultivated, yielding 250 million litres of wine annually, of which 85% is red. The harvest time for most Rioja vineyards is September-October with the northern Rioja Alta having the latest harvest in late October. The soil here is clay-based with a high concentration of chalk and iron (which provides the redness in the soil that may be responsible for the region's name, Rioja, meaning red). There is also significant concentration of limestone, sandstone and alluvial silt. Among the Tintos, the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano. Each grape adds a unique component to the wine with Tempranillo contributing the main flavours and ageing potential to the wine; Garnacha adding body and alcohol; Mazuelo adding seasoning flavours and Graciano adding additional aromas. With Rioja Blanco, Viura is the prominent grape (also known as Macabeo) and is sometimes blended with some Malvesia and Garnacha Blanca. In the white wines the Viura contributes mild fruitness, acidity and some aroma to the blend with Garnacha Blanca adding body and Malvasia adding aroma. Rosados are mostly derived from Garnacha grapes. The 'international varieties' of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have gained some attention and use through experimental plantings by some bodegas but their use has created wines distinctly different from the typical Rioja. Some of the most sought after grapes come from the limestone/sandstone based 'old vine' vineyards in the Alavesa and Alta regions. These 40 year old plus vines are prized due to their low yields and more concentrated flavours. A unique DO regulation stipulates that the cost of the grapes used to make Rioja must exceed by at least 200% the national average of wine grapes used in all Spanish wines. VINTAGE CHART Rioja (Red) Year % 2004 Superb vintage, classic wines Drink or Hold 94 2003 Hot, dry year, long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 91 2002 Smallest vintage in 10 years. Variable quality. Keep to top names Drink or Hold 87 2001 Excellent year for long ageing Reservas and Gran Reservas Drink or Hold 94 2000 A generally good vintage with fine Reservas Drink or Hold 89 1999 Smaller vintage of good quality Drink or Hold 88 1998 Good vintage Drink or Hold 97 1997 Unexciting so far, but quaffable Drink or Hold 84 1996 Good year, plenty of ageing potential Drink or Hold 89 1995 Very good vintage, Reservas now showing excellent fruit Drink or Hold 92 1994 Outstanding, some great long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 94 1993 Lesser wines, apart from best-known names Drink 77 1992 Rather light vintage Drink 80 1991 Still improving, average quality Drink or Hold 85 1990 Fairly ordinary but quaffable Drink 84 1989 Good, firm structure Drink 88 Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva – Vintages of the Eighties Year % 1989 Goodish vintage, well balanced Drink 88 1988 Fairly good vintage, well balanced wines Drink 88 1987 Very attractive vintage, now at peak Drink 90 1986 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87 1985 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87 1984 Disappointing, with problem weather Avoid 80 1983 Don't keep it any longer Drink 86 1982 Now past its best Drink 83 1981 Superb wines, finest will keep longer Drink 90 1980 Average vintage, don't keep any longer Drink 86 More vintage charts Mp on weinlagen-info |