Muga is one of Rioja's most traditional family-owned bodegas, still fermenting in oak vats and aging in their own cooperage. Selección Especial is their premium Reserva, made only in exceptional vintages from their best estate fruit. The 2020 vintage in Rioja was superb, delivering wines with concentration, balance and serious aging potential. This sees extended oak aging in French and American barrels before release.
Red cherry, plum and strawberry with vanilla, coconut, cedar and sweet spice from the oak. Medium to full bodied with silky tannins and vibrant acidity. There's elegance here rather than power, with the oak beautifully integrated rather than dominating. Layers of complexity with tobacco, leather and earthy notes emerging. Long, refined finish.
Serve at room temperature (16-18°C). Decant for 30 minutes to let it open up. Pairs beautifully with roast lamb, Ibérico ham, aged Manchego, or mushroom risotto. Drinking well now but will develop further over 10-15 years.
Wine characteristics
Spain
Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, Tempranillo
2020
Bodegas Muga
14.5%
Standard - 75cl
Cork
Tips
How to serve?
Serve at room temperature
Goes well with
Cheese
Goes well with
Game
Goes well with
Lamb
Goes well with
Sausage
Goes well with
Steak
Goes well with
Vegetable
Discover
Bodegas Muga is a family business founded by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño in 1932, located in the historic Barrio de La Estación (Station Quarter) of Haro. It is home to both the most traditional winemaking methods and the latest cutting-edge techniques. They are the only cellar in Spain with a master cooper and three in-house barrel-makers.
Bodegas Muga vineyards are located on the foot of the Montes Obarenses, within the area called Rioja Alta. The site climate is exceptional due to, on the one hand, the singular geography and orientation of the vines and on the other hand, the surrounding climates – Mediterranean, Atlantic and Continental climates are combined harmoniously thus creating a suitable climate for growing top quality grapes.
The soil in this area is mostly clay and limestone, divided into small terroirs with different physical and chemical qualities between them; each terroir has a unique and defined personality. This variety of climatic influences and different soils influence many stages of the vine growth cycle. The growth will be complex and delicate, key to the potential quality of the wines in this area.
The grape varieties grown are Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano for the red wines; and Viura and Malvasia are used for the white wines.
Seleccion Especial 2020
"After fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, the wine is Aged for 26 months, in new french oak barrel made in our cooperage. After being fined with fresh egg whites, the wine is bottled, after which it remains in our cellars for at least 18 months for further ageing. This wine will go well with red meats, lamb and all types of game dishes."
