Muga "PRADO ENEA" Rioja Gran Reserva
| Vintage: | 2015 |
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| Description: | A family-owned winery that was founded in 1932, Bodegas Muga is one of the "first growths" of Rioja according to Master of Wine Tim Atkin. It's stylistically among the " more modern of the traditionalists," which we find to be a sweet spot for many of our customers. In fact, it comes from the far-flung corner of Rioja, becoming a bit of a hybrid between the wines of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. The Prado Enea has a modern Alavesa's fuller body and densely-packed dark, plummy fruit but along with an acidity that sparkles with a "quartz-like minerality," and enhances the more finessed aspects of classic wines from Rioja Alta. Rioja's signature oak influence comes off as a welcome woodsy balsam accent that's more tucked into the fruit, certainly not veering into the realm of the toasty coconut creaminess of the old school. The typical notes of bottle age ( tobacco, forest floor, truffle ) are slowly developing underneath the power of the 2015 vintage, which will continue to soften and complexify over the next decade if you're so inclined to hold it. It's already a pleasure to drink, though, with a velvet quality to the ample tannins. This is a remarkable wine that's sure to impress many palates, especially accompanied by rich dishes like roasts with truffle and aged sheep cheeses. Despite the modern advances in winemaking of which Muga makes use, the old-world ways are certainly still a big influence on Prado Enea's style: the fermentation happens naturally without added yeasts, in large 1000 Liter oak vats at natural temperatures, followed by a long 3-year aging in large American oak vats and smaller French oak barrels. In order to make a more complete wine, and as is typical in Rioja, the dominant Tempranillo is partnered with the classic varieties Garnacha, Mazuelo (aka Carignan), and Graciano. Wine Advocate 97 Points - "The most classical of their wines, the 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, mostly from Rioja Alta (Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche), but the Garnacha is from different plots in the zone of Tudelilla at high altitude. These grapes are always picked last, but the wine has a similar alcohol level as the rest, around 14.5% in a warm year like 2019. The modus operandi is similar to other of the top cuvesharvested into 200-kilogram boxes, destemming, optical sorting and fermentation in small oak casks with indigenous yeasts. The levage in this case is extended to 36 months, and the barrels are only 10% new. This is, year in, year out, my favorite wine from Muga, and in this powerful and ripe year, these late-harvesting vines ripened thoroughly and delivered a full array of aromas and flavors so that the wine has plenty of depth and complexity. It has a very classical profile, with incipient tertiary notes, perfumed, floral and rich, textured and beautifully balanced. They compare this 2015 with 2009 and 2005 in terms of style but with freshness in the style of 2001 and 2010. It's enjoyable but should also develop for a long time in bottle. One of the finest Prado Enea vintages. 108,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018. There's no 2012 or 2013 of this. There will be a 2016 and 2019, but no 2017 or 2018. 2020 is still a question mark, they have not yet decided it." |
| Price: | $ 89.98 |
| Price in original currency: | None |
Available from Hi-Time Wine Cellars
| Address: |
250 Ogle Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627 United States |
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| Telephone (toll-free): | 800-331-3005 |
| Telephone (regular): | 949-650-8463 |
| Fax: | 949-631-6863 |
First added to 1000 Corks on January 29, 2024.
