Robert Parker (and Jay Miller) states that Muga is one of his favourite bodegas in Rioja in a couple of his tasting notes, and it’s one of the few things that I agree with him on. Not that there is anything wrong with that, the world would be a rather boring place if we all agreed. I’d love to sit down and go through a couple of bottles with the big fella, he seems like he’d be a laugh with a few in him.

Embarrassingly, its been nearly 5 months since I did a full tasting at the bodega in February and I still haven’t finished the bodega profile and tasting notes. Oh well, they’ll be up on the site at some stage. However, I will say that the impression I left Muga with was this: absolute attention to detail, extreme energy and passion, but all done with a quiet swagger of confidence and experience.

Spicy wood notes, over some gorgeous fruit: mainly cherry and mulberry with a bit of red currant. Add to that a mix of  oregano and thyme and a little coffee. Lovely acid and flush with fleshy tannins.  You get lovely bit of acid popping in between the fruit, then this suave and subtle expression of fruit that weaves itself in. Just perfect line and length. Tangy minerally finish. Given this tasting, I am going to pull out a fairly big score. However, I think this has greater appeal that the Marques de Riscal 04, and would dock the Riscal a point or two based on this. Drink now with a good decant, or keep it for 3 year then drink over the following 10. 93+ Pts.

Source: Toro Wines Price: $55 Closure: Conventional Cork