Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2001

Deep red.

Earth/clay, (citrus) pepper/spice, sausage and red and black fruit nose.


Intense pepper/earth entry, good roundness, buffered by chewy, grainy tannin and good acidity. Very good flavor follow through, start to finish. This needs time, but has the raw material, and inherent complexity, to reward several more years in the cellar.

The citrus character here only obvious on day 3. I assume some Garnacha is responsible. Other regions are getting monster press, but the complexity of many Riojas, based, I assume, on blending Tempranillo with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano,
continues to impress me.


$25