Torre Muga Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value!

Beautiful. Fruit, complex and finesse. Plenty of time

Before ‘14, last vintage was ‘11, no ‘12 or ‘13. Deep Ruby a blend 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & 10% Mazuelo, aged new French oak for 15 months (‘11 was 24 mos). Ripe red fruit aromas with floral, oak & pepper spice. On palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers of fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao & licorice. Fine tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and oak. Decant or let sit in the cellar for a while. Nice! Tried several ‘14’s.

Brilliant violet. Intense, spice-tinged cherry, boysenberry and vanilla scents display outstanding clarity and pick up smoky mineral and floral accents with air. Juicy and seamless in texture, showing excellent depth as well as energy to the red and blue fruit liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors, which demonstrate impressive definition and back-end lift. Finishes extremely long and precise, with an echo of sweet dark berries and deftly woven tannins that add gentle grip. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2021)

Last vintage was ‘11, there were no ‘12 or ‘13, tried a few ‘14’s. Deep Ruby a blend 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & 10% Mazuelo, aged new French oak for 15 months (‘11 was 24 mos). Full red fruit aromas with floral, oak & pepper spice. On palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers of fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao & licorice. Tannins are beginning to soften. Well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and oak. Decant or let sit in the cellar for a while. Nice!

Last tasted was ‘11 as there were no ‘12 or ‘13, just tried ‘14 again. Deep Ruby, blend 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & 10% Mazuelo, aged new French oak for 15 months (‘11 was 24 mos). Full red fruit aromas with floral, oak & pepper spice. On palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers of fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao & licorice. Tannins are still tight and will soften with time. Well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and oak. Decant now, otherwise let sit in the cellar. Nice!

Last vin tasted was ‘11 as there were no ‘12 or ‘13. Deep Ruby, blend 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & 10% Mazuelo, aged in new French oak for 15 months (‘11 was 24 mos). Concentrated red fruit aromas with floral, oak & pepper spice. On the palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao and licorice. Tannins are tight and will soften with time. Well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and oak. Decant now, otherwise let sit in the cellar. Nice!

Had to get a bottle for holidays. Beautiful dark color, blend of Tempranillo, Graciano & Mazuelo, aged in new French oak for 24 months. Concentrated red fruit aromas with light oak and spice. On the palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao and toasty oak. Tannins are a bit biting now but should softer with time. Lingering, great balance on the finish ending with . Decant to drink now, otherwise let this baby sit in the cellar. No ‘12 or ‘13, so grab ‘10 & ‘11 now

Tasted 2010 &’11 side by side. Beautiful dark color, blend of Tempranillo, Graciano & Mazuelo, aged in new French oak for 24 months. Concentrated red fruit aromas with light oak and spice. On the palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao and toasty oak. Tannins are a bit biting now but should softer with time. Lingering, great balance on the finish ending with . Decant to drink now, otherwise let this baby sit in the cellar. No ‘12 or ‘13, so grab ‘10 & ‘11 now

Lucky enough to taste 2010 &’11 side by side. Beautiful dark color, blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & 10% Mazuelo, aged in new French oak for 16 months. Concentrated red fruit aromas with complementing oak and spice. On the palate perfectly ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers fruit & spice, noting tobacco, cacao and savory pepper. Tannins are a bit muted but with an edge, lingering, comes together on the finish with great balance. Decant to drink now, otherwise let this baby sit in the cellar