Technical sheet:Winery: Muga
Designation of Origin: Rioja
Variety: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo, and 3% Graciano
Alcohol content: 14.0% vol.
Tasting notes: This wine has a cherry red color, with a high layer and very good density. On the nose, one can find hints of ripe red fruits, spices (pepper), and undergrowth; highlighting the full range of coffee aromas: coffee with milk caramel, roasted coffee, and well-integrated wood. It is silky on the palate, with present tannins, denoting youth and good aging potential. It has a tannic structure that makes it elegant and balanced.
Serving temperature: 16°C
Geology and Soil: Clay-limestone terraces from the Tertiary period.
Elaboration: Fermentation with indigenous yeast in oak tanks. Aging for 26 months in selected French oak barrels in our cooperage. Prior to bottling, clarification is done with fresh egg whites. Once bottled, it undergoes a refinement process for a minimum of twelve months in our cellar.
Pairing: At Made in Spain Gourmet, we recommend this wine with red meats, lamb, grilled rock fish, as well as aged goat and sheep cheeses. They are a perfect combination.
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 situated on a plateau with a very particular geological structure and fantastic protection from the cold winds from the north. In short, an exceptional vineyard. They are the first vineyards owned by the Muga family. The quality of their high-end wines lies in this paradisiacal place. 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 aim to recover the highest quality lands, but also work to ensure that the selection of each of our vines is the best. That is why Muga plants its vineyards with our own selection of vines. These vineyards, located at the highest altitude in La Rioja on the cultivation limit, 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 within the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin. It has 13,500 hectares of vineyards and several hundred wineries, resulting in an average annual production of around 40 million liters of wine.
The area is especially known for red wines with specific general characteristics, such as a bright and lively color, a fine aroma, a fruity taste, and a pleasant palate. These peculiarities are due to the clay-limestone soils of the area, which are excellent for vines to absorb the necessary moisture. The climate and location of the vineyards, behind the Sierra de Toloño, which protects the vines from the cold winds from the north and allows the vines to better take advantage of the heat, also contribute to their quality.
Red wines are the most representative wines of the region and are made from varieties such as Tempranillo (around 79% of total production comes from this grape), Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.
Young or year wines are mostly made using the traditional carbonic maceration method, where 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.
On the other hand, aging, reserve, and grand reserve wines are made using the Bordeaux or destemming method. This involves breaking the grapes by removing the stems and incubating the must with its pulp for seven days. After several fermentations, they are transferred to barrels for aging. The time spent in barrels and bottles will differentiate between aging, reserve, and grand reserve wines.
Due to the increasing appreciation of rosé and white wines