Bodegas Muga, "Torre Muga", Rioja, 2020

Round, velvety and very pleasant Rioja

Very high intensity on the nose with ripe fruit notes of blackberry and strawberry to the fore. Ageing aromas from the fine quality French oak also appear, with toasted and smoked notes and coffee, among others. On the palate it is powerful, with a return of the fine aromas detected on the nose. A good balance between the alcohol and acidity. The tannins are smooth and elegant. The finish is very long leaving a satisfying, full sensation.

"The more modern wine in the portfolio is the 2020 Torre Muga, which has notes of toast, smoke, sesame seeds, smoky bacon, spices, herbs and ripe berries. It is a wine they started producing in 1991, and the change in style also influenced the quality approach and selection of vineyards, grapes and oak for the barrels that they later applied to other wines. It has a polished palate with very fine tannins, chalky and elegant. It's a more approachable vintage, round, velvety and soft, though perhaps without the aging potential of 2021, but it’s very pleasant. It's long. They didn't bottle the 2020 from Aro, so some of those grapes might have finished in this bottle. It was bottled in December 2022."
-Luis Gutiérrez

• Blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano
• Aged 24 months in oak casks with 18 months in new French oak
• Robert Parker 95/100 Pts

STORY BEHIND THE WINE

Bodegas Muga are one of the leading lights in Rioja. The majority of their vineyard holdings are located in Rioja Alta, a relatively high altitude location which is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic. This brings a freshness and vitality to the resultant wines. Established in the 1930s Muga are one of the great success stories of Spanish wine. Their output is formidable with zero compromise on quality.