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Technical sheet:

Winery: Muga

D.O.Ca: Rioja

Variety: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano

Alcohol content: 14.0% vol.

Tasting notes: We find a wine with a medium-high layer, ruby red color with tile reflections. A dense tear, giving us a enveloping sequence in the glass. Firstly, notes of red fruits like blackberries and hints of spices appear. All very well harmonized with smoky aromas from its passage through woods with a light-medium toast. Vanilla on the branch is present in the background with notes of coffee. On the palate, it has a silky attack, enveloping tannins with menthol touches. It is worth noting an interesting final persistence in the mouth.

Serving temperature: 16ºC

Geology and Soil: Terraces of clay-calcareous tertiary.

Production: Fermentation with indigenous yeast in oak tanks. Aging for 24 months in barrels made with oaks selected in our cooperage. Prior to bottling, clarification is done with fresh egg white. Once in the bottle, it will undergo a refining process for twelve months in our cellar, at least.

Pairing: at Made in Spain Gourmet we recommend pairing it with white veal meats, Iberian products, and some type of stew. It goes well with semi-cured and cured sheep and goat cheeses, as well as creamy ones like those from Oncala or Alma de Calaveruela.

Muga vineyards

Probably one of the terroirs that best defines the typicity of wines made in Haro. Its geological and climatic characteristics give the wines a marked personality with great aging potential, making it a unique place in La Rioja. Located a few kilometers from Haro, it is on a plateau with a very particular geological structure, to which we must add its fantastic protection from the cold winds of the north. In short, an exceptional vineyard. These are the first vineyards owned by the Muga family. The quality of their high-end wines lies in this paradisiacal location. Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano coexist in this vineyard to give us magnificent wines. This is an example of a family's work to ensure quality in the future. Muga continues to invest in the best terroirs in the area. For our newly planted vineyards, we not only seek to recover the highest quality lands, but we also work to ensure that the selection of each and every one of our vines is the best, which is why Muga plants its vineyards with our own selection of vines. These vineyards, located at the highest altitude in La Rioja, where cultivation is limited, produce wines with very good acidity and aging potential. Few wineries bet on such extreme areas, but our peculiar cultivation system allows us to produce wines of the highest quality and discover the potential of each of our vineyards.

La Rioja Alavesa: the elite of Rioja wines

Rioja Alavesa is classified as a subzone in the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin. It has 13,500 hectares of vineyards and several hundred wineries, resulting in an annual average of around 40 million liters of wine.

The area produces especially red wines with specific general characteristics, such as a bright and lively color, a fine aroma, a fruity flavor, and a pleasant palate. These peculiarities are due to the clay-limestone soils of the area, which are excellent for the vines to absorb the necessary moisture. The climate and location of the vineyards also contribute to their quality, as they are located behind the Sierra de Toloño, which protects the vines from the cold northern winds and allows the vines to better take advantage of the heat.

Red wines are the most representative of the region and are made with the varieties Tempranillo (around 79% of the total is produced from this grape), Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.

Young or yearling wines are mostly made using the traditional carbonic maceration method, in which whole clusters ferment in a 'lake' for between seven and ten days. Once free of skins and stems, they are transferred to tanks to finish fermentation.

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