Muga 2022

Muga 2022 is a Reserva from the long established Muga winery in Haro, in the heart of Rioja Alta. It draws on the classic Rioja blend of Tempranillo with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, each grape adding a part of the whole: Tempranillo for structure and red fruit, Garnacha for warmth, Mazuelo for acidity and colour, and Graciano for aromatic lift and fine tannin. Haro sits where the continental climate of Rioja Alta meets cooler Atlantic air, a combination that ripens the fruit gently and keeps acidity firm. The wine ages twenty-two months in French and American oak followed by nine months in bottle, a long elevage in which slow oxygen exchange through the staves softens tannin and develops the savoury, tertiary character that defines traditional Rioja. It is medium to full bodied and aromatic, with cherry and plum, vanilla and clove from the oak, and developing notes of leather, tobacco and dried herbs. The tannins are fine and the finish long and elegant. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting ahead, with roast lamb or aged cheese.