Muga Selección Especial

Muga Seleccion Especial 2011 er lavet på 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo og 5% Graciano. Lagret 6 måneder i træbeholdere, 30 måneder i egetræstønder og minimum 12 måneder på flaske. En af Mugas mest elegante vine, som dog stadig indeholder en masse klassiske træk for en stor vin fra Rioja. Vinen har en intens krydret bouquet af vanilje, chokolade, tobak og en dyb frisk rød frugt. På tungen er vinen endnu mere intens. Udsøgt balance mellem frugten og den diskrete sødme fra fadlagringen. Lad vinen ilte 2-3 timer i en karaffel inden servering ved 15-16 grader. Et meget velegnet match til f.eks. kalvekød, vildt og intense faste oste. 95 point - James Suckling: "A complex nose of dried strawberries with slate and white-truffle undertones. Hints of Spanish cedar. Full body, juicy tannins and bright acidity that follows through to a long, clean and earthy finish. A great wine that shows structure and complexity. Drink or hold." 92 point - Parker/The Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Reserva Selección Especial, from a warmer and drier year compared with the average (as well as the previous harvest), has a similar blend as the regular Muga Reserva; it is 65% Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, and it was fermented in small vats with indigenous yeasts. The different varieties and grapes are fermented and aged separately, the first year in new oak and the second one in used barrels. 2011 is a powerful vintage for this cuvée, which now shows quite marked by toasty aromas. Warm vintages usually need longer in bottle to integrate the oak, but experience shows that it gets absorbed and in fact the evolution of this wine in bottle is very good. Even if the nose recommends to wait, the palate is very balanced, with remarkably ripe tannins for such warm year, which can sometime produce some harsh tannins. Not the case here, where the wine shows good elegance and balance. This is a very reliable cuvée, quite stable across vintages. 170,000 bottles produced."
Årgang 2010 fik: 95 point - Wine Spectator: "Powerful yet harmonious, this rich red delivers black cherry, licorice, fresh herb, smoke and mineral flavors that mingle seamlessly over firm, well-integrated tannins, while balsamic-tinged acidity drives the flavors through the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2025." Årgang 2010 fik: 93+ point - Wine Advocate (Luis Gutierrez): "The 2010 Reserva Selección Especial is always the most food-oriented of their reds, a blend similar to the one found in the Reserva, 65% Tempranillo with some 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, but here the grapes are sourced from older vineyards in higher-altitude terraces where there are poorer soils and the grapes have an extra degree of freshness. The wine is also aged for longer in barrel and it's slightly marked by toast aromas, but the bright fruit underneath is quite pure, and comes through very recognizable as Rioja. A second bottle showed fresher (the cork on the first one was a bit dry), even brighter and more transparent fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins that would benefit from some more time in bottle and have a long life ahead. There is very good acidity and fine balance. It's a wine that is perfect for the table. A great Selección Especial. 200,000 bottles produced." Årgang 2010 fik: GOLD - Decanter: Årgang 2010 fik: 96 point - James Suckling: