2011 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea, Spain, Wine Review

Another classic Rioja albeit a slightly more modern style. This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. Ruby in color with a purple core, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is great with cherries, cedar, black cherries, forest floor, dust and chocolate. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Great balance. On the palate, this is delicious. Black cherries, tobacco and spice with some underlying char. Some chocolate comes out on the long finish. This is still young but already great. A couple more years in the cellar will be rewarded but this is fantastic drinking now. Drink over the next twenty years. It is great on its own but will be better with food. This would be great with Lasagna.

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Vintage:

2011

Current Price:

$80.00USD

2014 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

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Current Price:

$39.00USD

This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 10% Graciano, and 5% Manuelo from Spain. It is a modern, delicious take on Rioja. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, espresso, and baking spices. Full bodied. Very nice texture. It has lots of black raspberries, some black cherries with underlying spice. There is some warmth to it. Drinking great now, it should drink well for another decade. This drinks great on its own and will work great with heavier meat dishes. Think steak or brisket.

2015 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

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Current Price:

$35.00USD

This is an excellent value in a mostly traditional Spanish wine from Rioja. It is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and and 30% a combination of balance Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. Deep ruby in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with black cherries, blueberries, slight tobacco, cloves and slight dill. Full bodied. On the palate, this has an "old world" feel to it, but with plenty of ripe fruit too. The blueberries and black cherries come thru over a bed of dusty dry leaves with a slight bit of savory spices. Nice finish. This drinks well on its own but really worked well with

2016 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva Especial, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

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Current Price:

$49.00USD

Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, cedar, dil, and vanilla. Medium bodied. Drying tannins. On the palate, cherries with underlying char. some depth. Good balance. Long finish. This is a nice, easy drinking Rioja that should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years. Nice on its own, this is food friendly and would work well with roast meats or veggies.

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2004

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Current Price:

$125.00USD

Wow, this is a tannic beast. At age 19/20 this is young and difficult if excellent. Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, cigar box, and slight spice. Full bodied. Very firm tannins. On the palate it is complex and layered. Layers of cherries, dill and vanilla. Long black cherry finish. Great balance. It seems like it could easily go another twenty years. Will the fruit outlast the tannins though? In any event, very enjoyable on its own and will work better with food. A Mushroom Risotto would be great.

2011 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2011

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Current Price:

$30.00USD

This was the second time tasting this wine this month. Lucky me! It is classic old style Rioja impeccably produced. Truly a great value in traditional Rioja. The wine is fermented in 144 year old oak vats before being stored for five years in used American oak barrels and five more in bottles. It is a blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho (15%), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano (5%) from estate vineyards. Ruby in color with some purple swirls and maybe just a hint of orange. The nose is great with cherries, spice, cedar, dust and slight herbal note. Full bodied. Light tannins.

2011 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea, Spain, Wine Review

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