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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.5 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 31 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by thestuer on 9/22/2023 & rated 93 points: Random snag from Binny's for dinner at Beckmans with steak. PnP (no decanter available) and it was still fantastic. Yes it is young, yes it continues to improve. 2nd bottle was opened simultaneously and had a bit more graphite/flint nose but otherwise similar tasting notes to others. Hold 5+y (1782 views) | | | Tasted by Tige on 2/18/2023 & rated 89 points: Violet foncé, opaque.
Fruits noirs au nez, un peu de cassis et de chêne.
Puissant, corpulent, belle acidité, tanins fins mais très présents, plutôt fermé en bouche côté fruits.
À laisser en cave de nombreuses années pour profiter des 90 $... (2817 views) | | | Tasted by Adam T 12 on 11/12/2022 & rated 92 points: In a weird spot. Decanted for about 6 hours. Obviously well made, nice fruit. Just a bit reserved tonight. Either give it a longer decant wait a couple years. (3158 views) | | | Tasted by prasm on 11/8/2022 & rated 92 points: Consumed over 2 days (vacuvined and refrigerated), note from day 2. Appearance: Clear, medium ruby from rim to core. Nose: Clean, medium intensity with developing aromas of jammy fruit - strawberry, boysenberry, and raspberry, cedar, violets, and milk chocolate. Palate: Dry, medium+ acid, medium+ silky tannin, full bodied, medium+ intensity, 14.5% abv with developing flavors of ripe boysenberry and cherry, peppercorn, leather, and spice with a long finish. Overall an outstanding wine excelling in all areas particularly in complexity and length. Drinking well upon opening on day 1 but even better on day 2. Can drink now with some air, better in 3-5 years. (3210 views) | | | Tasted by gornals on 8/10/2022 & rated 94 points: The wine looks inky colored. The legs are slow. It smells like prune, plum, black currant (cassis), mineral, mushroom, stoniness, high toast, coconut, oak, vanilla, black pepper, clove and violet. The body is full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity. (2952 views) | | | Tasted by Juliansi on 6/24/2022 & rated 88 points: This modern style Rioja kick started a string of 5 different reds we were gonna enjoy with our Tapas meal in town...
Black fruit aroma on the nose, rather tight initially but opened up over 2 hours, remained bold but balanced this was a great 1st bottle.
Spice and vanilla notes obviously from the French oak aging.
Thanks @Mika Tyson Teau for the 🃏 and sharing this with all of us, what a treat to have 5 Spanish wines, ranging from good to very special!
Pinchos, Changkat Bintang KL 🇲🇾 (3242 views) | | | Tasted by lasarte on 4/24/2022 & rated 88 points: 잘만든 산뜻한 템쁘라니오 (2895 views) | | | Tasted by Stonger the Better on 2/19/2022 & rated 92 points: Good but needs time. Years… (2876 views) | | | Tasted by Adam T 12 on 2/12/2022 & rated 93 points: Young with a lot of improvement to come. So vibrant, packed with fruit. I wouldn’t say it’s completely closed but it’s holding back. Definitely a long decant if you open now. Try again in 2 years. (2697 views) | | | Tasted by sdwineguru on 10/31/2021 & rated 89 points: 2016 Bodegas Torre Muga Rioja, Haro, Rioja Alta, $90. Mid purple; red fruit, cherry nose; young, ripe grapes; mid soft body; red fruit on the palate; straight forward; slightly tannic and one dimensional; hot finish (14.5 alc.). 15.5-16 UC Davis scale, 89-90 other scales. 75% Tempranilo, 15% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano. 14.5% alcohol. (3542 views) | | | Tasted by R2-D2 on 7/15/2021 & rated 93 points: Classic vs. Modern Rioja Masterclass w/ Pomeroy MW (The Wine Sellar and Brassiere): An impressive modern-styled Rioja that is as deep in color as it is in intensity. 18 months of new French Oak aging imparts a heavy dose of spice and espresso on top of the thick black fruits, herbal, and earthy flavors. Concentrated, chewy tannins are bit much right now. So, no reason to drink this any time soon. (3705 views) | | | Tasted by yasha on 6/24/2021 & rated 95 points: Wow ! what a great bottle of wine. still got a lot of years left. (3146 views) | | | Tasted by michaelloveswine on 3/13/2021 & rated 93 points: Too young (as expected).
Deep red, almost purple. Velvety. Black fruit, spice, vanilla, earth. Perhaps the darkest Rioja I've come across. Very modern style; not traditional.
Impressive in terms of a modern Rioja style, but I tend to prefer more traditional riojas. (3616 views) | | | Tasted by DMET on 2/21/2021 & rated 93 points: WAY TOO EARLY
Big, bold, berry and alcohol intense due to being drunk too young.
I will wait at least 5-7 years to try again.
will be great. (3771 views) | | | Tasted by Kevnzworld on 10/22/2020 & rated 93 points: 2 hour decant. Zoom wine meeting Tempranillo.
As it slowly opened it improved. Initially too tannic
This could be really good. Eventually. (3668 views) | | | Tasted by bram_epicurien on 7/30/2020 & rated 93 points: Singapore wine tasting of muga. 75% Tempranillo, 15% mazuelo, 10% graciano. Deep purple Color. A lot of black cherries and fruit on the nose, as well as smoke and black pepper. Med acidity, full body, high alcohol, Med flavor intensity, Med finish, Med tannins. Still young, quite acid, but one can taste the potential. Very nice structure, very nice fruit, nice chewiness, well balanced, this will evolve surely to an excellent wine. Glad i bought a bottle of this juice. (3265 views) | | | Tasted by Grinner on 6/27/2020 & rated 94 points: After a 1 hour decant, this wine pours as the darkest Rioja I've seen. Stern but round, this has loads of black fruit, tar, spice, and integrated oak. Serious structure = wait a year or ten! (3179 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Bodegas Muga Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)2016 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre MugaTypically, “75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, & 10% Graciano from chalky-clay & alluvial soils. Fermentation always starts naturally and spontaneously. The grapes will always ferment in wooden vats with indigenous yeasts and no temperature control. Maceration times can vary, up to two or three weeks. The wine ages for 18 months in new French-oak barrels from the area of Allier. After ageing there is light fining of the wine using fresh egg whites.”
https://www.jorgeordonezselections.com/single-wine.php?wineID=26 has additional technical info, + it at least currently contains texts of some of the “pro” reviews. Or, check wine-searcher’s Vendors & Reviews pgs if trying to access “pro” input. 😉
Tempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.
As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly.Torre MugaBodega Muga's Torre Muga is one of the flagship 'new wave' wines of Rioja. Traditionally and legally, Rioja has very strict rules governing terms like 'Reserva' or 'Gran Reserva' on the label. While the production of modern cuvées like Torre Muga can qualify for indications like 'Reserva,' the producers often eschew these designations in order to differentiate these wines from the traditional Rioja as well as produce a wine in the way they most see fit for the grapes and vintage rather than be bound by rigid strictures.
Muga's Torre Muga has been entered into CellarTracker with Torre Muga as the designation. Earlier vintages did display terms like 'Reserva' on the label, but we felt that preserving the continuity of this wine (one definition across all vintages) took precedence especially since the label currently only says 'Torre Muga.' We do include Reserva as a hidden search term.Spain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.La Rioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
Map on weinlagen-infoLa Rioja Alta Map on weinlagen-infoRioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
HISTORY
The wine region of La Rioja in Spain was first demarcated by the area's governing body, the Consejo Regulador, in 1926. The region extends for approximately 120 kilometres along both sides of the Ebro River and is, at its widest point, bounded by mountains on either side. In fact, the word 'Rioja' is a derivation of the two words 'Rio' (River) and 'Oja (the name of a tributary of the Ebro that runs right through La Rioja creating a series of microclimates and providing much needed water for the vines).
La Rioja has always been a vital part of Spain's history. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, and finally, medieval Crusaders have all played a part in the area's history. The Romans, however, made wine a part of their culture wherever they travelled, and La Rioja was no exception. Ancient sites of Roman wineries still exist in and around the area today.
After the Romans came the Moors, and winemaking all but ceased. It wasn't until after the famous 'El Cid' liberated Spain, and medieval Christianity brought trade via the Crusaders through the region, that it flourished again. The Benedictine monks of Cluny in Burgundy, known for their viticulture, helped to establish three monasteries in the area. The vines they planted were mostly white grapes. In the fourteenth century, English traders acquired a taste for a local Rioja wine, which was a blend of white and red wines called Blancos Pardillos. Over time, development of lighter reds came about satisfying eighteenth century English and French courts.
The real improvements to Rioja's viticulture began around 1780 when the need to prolong wine during transport brought about experimentation with different woods and preservatives. Studies were made of the techniques used by great chateaux in Bordeaux. With the outbreak of the Peninsular War, progress was halted until 1852, when the Bordelais came south to Rioja seeking vines because their vineyards had been blighted with oidium. French winemaking methods were eagerly taken up by great rivals the Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal (who both claim to have been the first in Rioja to make wine in the Bordeaux fashion).
When phylloxera devastated Bordeaux in the 1870s and the French influence really took hold in Rioja, many of the region's finest bodegas started production on what we now consider as the great wines of Rioja. It’s important to remember that Bordeaux winemaking methods then were very different to those employed today in France, and involved long ageing in barrel, a factor that the Riojans took up enthusiastically. So enthusiastically in fact that to this day there are a number of Bodegas that still make their wine in a surprisingly similar fashion to that of the Bordelais in the later part of the 1800s and this also explains why oak ageing is such an important part of Riojan winemaking.
USE OF OAK
Pronounced vanilla flavours in the wines are a trademark of the region though some modern winemakers are experimenting with making wines less influenced by oak. Originally French oak was used but as the cost of the barrels increased many bodegas began to buy American oak planks and fashion them into barrels at Spanish cooperages in a style more closely resembling the French method. This included hand splitting the wood, rather than sawing, and allowing the planks time to dry and 'season' in the outdoors versus drying in the kiln. In recent times, more bodegas have begun using French oak and many will age wines in both American and French oak for blending purposes.
In the past, it was not uncommon for some bodegas to age their red wines for 15-20 years or even more before their release. One notable example of this is Marqués de Murrieta which released its 1942 vintage Gran Reserva in 1983 after 41 years of ageing. Today most bodegas have shifted their winemaking focus to wines that are ready to drink sooner with the top wines typically ageing for 4-8 years prior to release though some traditionalists still age longer. The typical bodega owns anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 oak barrels.
The use of oak in white wine has declined significantly in recent times when before the norm was traditionally 2-5 years in oak. This created slightly oxidised wines with flavours of caramel, coffee, and roasted nuts that did not appeal to a large market of consumers. Today the focus of white winemakers has been to enhance the vibrancy and fruit flavours of the wine.
WINE CLASSIFICATION
Most Riojan Bodegas believe that the ageing of a wine should be the responsibility of the producer rather than that of the consumer, and this is why much Rioja is more mature than wines from other countries. Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labelled 'Rioja', or 'Sin Crianza' (meaning 'without ageing') is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "Crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which is in oak. 'Reserva' is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, 'Gran Reserva' wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessarily produced each year. Also produced are wines in a semi-crianza style, those that have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza. The designation of Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva might not always appear on the front label but may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
SUB REGIONS
Rioja Alta
Located on the western edge of the region, and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known for more fruity and concentrated wines which can have very smooth texture and mouth feel.
Rioja Alavesa
Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity. Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil.
Rioja Baja
Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticultural hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 95°F. Twenty percent of the vineyards actually fall within the Navarra appellation but the wine produced from the grapes is still allowed to claim the Rioja designation. The predominant grape here is the Garnacha which prefers the hot conditions, unlike the more aromatic Tempranillo. Consequently Baja wines are very deeply coloured and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. The wines typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of
the Rioja.
The Riojans are master blenders (as they have to be because there are relatively few single estates in the area, the norm being to blend from a wide variety of vineyards and wine areas). Consequently they are able to reduce vintage variation by careful blending and many of the best wines vary relatively little between vintages.
VITICULTURE & GRAPES
Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). Rioja has a total of 57,000 hectares cultivated, yielding 250 million litres of wine annually, of which 85% is red. The harvest time for most Rioja vineyards is September-October with the northern Rioja Alta having the latest harvest in late October. The soil here is clay-based with a high concentration of chalk and iron (which provides the redness in the soil that may be responsible for the region's name, Rioja, meaning red). There is also significant concentration of limestone, sandstone and alluvial silt.
Among the Tintos, the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano. Each grape adds a unique component to the wine with Tempranillo contributing the main flavours and ageing potential to the wine; Garnacha adding body and alcohol; Mazuelo adding seasoning flavours and Graciano adding additional aromas.
With Rioja Blanco, Viura is the prominent grape (also known as Macabeo) and is sometimes blended with some Malvesia and Garnacha Blanca. In the white wines the Viura contributes mild fruitness, acidity and some aroma to the blend with Garnacha Blanca adding body and Malvasia adding aroma. Rosados are mostly derived from Garnacha grapes. The 'international varieties' of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have gained some attention and use through experimental plantings by some bodegas but their use has created wines distinctly different from the typical Rioja.
Some of the most sought after grapes come from the limestone/sandstone based 'old vine' vineyards in the Alavesa and Alta regions. These 40 year old plus vines are prized due to their low yields and more concentrated flavours. A unique DO regulation stipulates that the cost of the grapes used to make Rioja must exceed by at least 200% the national average of wine grapes used in all Spanish wines.
VINTAGE CHART
Rioja (Red) Year %
2004 Superb vintage, classic wines Drink or Hold 94
2003 Hot, dry year, long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 91
2002 Smallest vintage in 10 years. Variable quality.
Keep to top names Drink or Hold 87
2001 Excellent year for long ageing Reservas
and Gran Reservas Drink or Hold 94
2000 A generally good vintage with fine Reservas Drink or Hold 89
1999 Smaller vintage of good quality Drink or Hold 88
1998 Good vintage Drink or Hold 97
1997 Unexciting so far, but quaffable Drink or Hold 84
1996 Good year, plenty of ageing potential Drink or Hold 89
1995 Very good vintage, Reservas now showing excellent fruit Drink or Hold 92
1994 Outstanding, some great long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 94
1993 Lesser wines, apart from best-known names Drink 77
1992 Rather light vintage Drink 80
1991 Still improving, average quality Drink or Hold 85
1990 Fairly ordinary but quaffable Drink 84
1989 Good, firm structure Drink 88
Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva – Vintages of the Eighties Year %
1989 Goodish vintage, well balanced Drink 88
1988 Fairly good vintage, well balanced wines Drink 88
1987 Very attractive vintage, now at peak Drink 90
1986 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1985 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1984 Disappointing, with problem weather Avoid 80
1983 Don't keep it any longer Drink 86
1982 Now past its best Drink 83
1981 Superb wines, finest will keep longer Drink 90
1980 Average vintage, don't keep any longer Drink 86
More vintage charts
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