Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2021

MUGA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2021

Some wines embody a particular way of understanding a region. Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2021 is one of them. A Rioja that combines the tradition of one of the appellation's great wineries with a more contemporary, fresh, and vibrant interpretation. A wine that The Wine Advocate, in an assessment by Luis Gutiérrez, has recognized with 95 points, placing it among the great expressions of the 2021 vintage.

The 2021 harvest was an exceptional vintage in Rioja. It wasn't an easy year from a viticultural perspective, but precisely that difficulty allowed for wines of enormous freshness, energy, and aging potential. The combination of power and elegance that characterizes this vintage is expressed with particular clarity in this Selección Especial, a wine that evolves beautifully in the bottle and already displays an extraordinary harmony between fruit, acidity, structure, and aging.

Muga Reserva Selección Especial is made from a blend of the four traditional Rioja grape varieties: Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo, and Graciano. The grapes come from a selection of vineyards owned by the Muga family and from local growers with whom the winery maintains a close relationship. The family owns approximately 475 hectares of vineyards, which cover around 60% of their needs, while the remaining grapes come from local growers.

The evolution of this wine is particularly interesting. Originally, Selección Especial was a selection of barrels. Over time, the philosophy has changed, and it has now become primarily a selection of vineyards, seeking to identify plots and grapes capable of offering a particularly gastronomic, complex, and balanced expression of Rioja.

The harvest is carried out with the aim of preserving the freshness and quality of the grapes. Once in the winery, the different varieties ferment in oak vats, following a moderate extraction process that seeks to obtain depth and structure without losing the wine's natural elegance. Subsequently, the wine matures for 26 months in French oak barrels, crafted by the winery's own coopers. During aging, racking takes place every eight or nine months, allowing the wine to evolve gradually and the oak to integrate naturally.

Muga's philosophy is deeply rooted in working with wood. The winery boasts approximately 14,000 oak barrels and 250 oak vats, and its winemaking relies primarily on wooden vessels, without the use of stainless steel tanks. This traditional identity, however, does not imply stagnation. Muga continues to work on vineyard selection, more sustainable agricultural practices, and increasingly environmentally friendly viticulture. The winery does not use insecticides, herbicides, or mineral fertilizers in its standard practices and has begun the organic certification process for some plots.

In the glass, Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2021 combines the classic character of Rioja with a more modern and vibrant energy. It is a profound, fresh, and exceptionally food-friendly wine. The fruit is accompanied by spices, balsamic notes, and perfectly integrated aging nuances. On the palate, it is flavorful, juicy, and long, with a delightful, almost saline mineral sensation that adds a particularly appealing dimension.

Its 14.5% alcohol, pH of 3.56, and acidity of 5.91 grams per liter showcase the vintage's extraordinary combination of ripeness and freshness. The tannins are fine and delicately textured, providing structure without harshness. The overall effect is balanced, elegant, and full of energy.

Luis Gutiérrez describes it as a traditional Rioja with a touch of rock and roll, a description that perfectly encapsulates its personality. There is classicism in the varietal, the aging process, and the oak influence, but there is also a vibrant energy, a freshness, and a tension that make the wine feel completely contemporary.

Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2021 is, above all, a wine for the table. Its balance, freshness, and flavorful character make it an exceptional food companion. This is a wine that doesn't need to display power to demonstrate its greatness: it impresses with its depth, harmony, and ability to continue developing in the bottle.

At El Sumiller, we selected this vintage because it embodies everything we look for in a great Rioja: an exceptional vintage, a carefully selected origin, the region's traditional grape varieties, perfectly integrated aging, and an expression that blends tradition and modernity. Its 95 points from The Wine Advocate are recognition of a wine that is already at its peak, but which also possesses remarkable aging potential.

A serious, fresh, flavorful, and complex Rioja. A wine with a traditional soul.