The 2021 Muga Rioja Reserva is a red wine from Spain's renowned Rioja region, crafted by the esteemed producer Muga. This wine is a proprietary blend with Tempranillo as the dominant varietal, complemented by Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. Known for its flagship status, the 2021 vintage captures the essence of Muga's winemaking prowess.
Jeb Dunnuck, writing for jebdunnuck.com, awards this wine an impressive score of 94. He describes it as "full-bodied" with "supple, silky tannins" and notes its light touches of oak spice, cedar, balsamic, and white pepper. Dunnuck highlights the wine's production process, noting its fermentation in wooden vats with indigenous yeasts. The grapes are meticulously separated by quality, soil type, and village origin, ensuring a complex and high-quality output. Dunnuck suggests that this wine, from what he calls a "beautiful vintage," is poised to thrive for another 15-20 years.
Wine Spectator's AN provides another strong endorsement, scoring the wine at 92. The review describes the wine as "fresh and minerally up front," with a "fine mesh of chopped cherry and plum skin flavors." Fragrant hints of ground coffee, smoked paprika, and dried marjoram add to its complexity. The wine's "sculpted tannins" define a "long, slightly chewy finish," making it enjoyable now and promising further development through 2035.
Overall, the 2021 Muga Rioja Reserva is a well-crafted wine that balances freshness and complexity, showcasing the quality and expertise of Muga. It is a wine with potential for aging, making it a worthy addition to any cellar.