Muga - Rioja Reserva 2012

Muga – Rioja Reserva 2012 (89 TSW)
This blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Garnacha  and Graciano is always a solid choice for me. A wine with a great price, quality rate.

Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak vats. Aged for 24 months in casks made in their cooperage from selected oak. Once bottled it is left to undergo a rounding process for twelve months in the cellar, as a minimum.

My tasting notes:

With some air this Rioja opens very nicely.
In the glass a deep ruby red color.
On the medium+ nose aromas of black fruit, cherries and vanilla with hints of tobacco and earthy hints.
On the palate dry, medium+ bodied with medium tannins and acidity. The flavours are a recall of the nose  with a long smooth finish. 

To pair with: veal, Iberian ham and charcuterie and some kinds of stews and hotpots.

About the winery:

The vineyards of the Bodegas Muga are located in the foothills of the Montes Obarenes in the Rioja Alta. A special climate prevails there: influences from the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the continent form an ideal mix that offers the perfect conditions for growing grapes. The soil of this region consists mainly of clay and limestone and is divided into small plots, each with its own characteristics.

Bodegas Muga owns 200 ha. wine-growing area, but another 150 ha will be created. from winemakers who supply under contract. This production is supervised by Muga's oenologic team. The most important grape variety is of course the tempranillo and Garnacha. White wine is made from Viura and Malvasia grapes.