Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano
75cl * 14.0% ABV * Rioja, Spain
Muga is one of those few wineries in Rioja that has managed to combine absolute family tradition with a renewed vision of the future. This has allowed them to maintain the unique character and personality of their wines. In addition, it is one of the few wineries in Rioja that uses oak from its own cooperage in all the stages of the production and the ageing processes.
The grapes for this 'Prado Enea' Gran Reserva come from the highest part of the vineyard at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level, and are always the last to enter the winery, having reached optimum ripeness. They are hand selected in the vineyard and then undergo another selection in the winery. After fermentation, the wine spends a minimum of 36 months in French and American oak casks before a further 36 months aging in the bottle, allowing complex and concentrated flavours to develop.
This pairs well with casseroles, meat dishes, fish and cheese. This can be happily enjoyed on its own or with food now although has fantastic aging potential.
Drinking Window: Now - 2036
"The 2006 Prado Enea is a phenomenal bottle of traditional Rioja at its best. A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for a long time in oak and bottled before release. This is a practice quite common from yesteryear, but that is a true rarity today. ...This is a wine that is not automatically produced every year. The nose is intoxicating with a superb mixture of tertiary and more primary aromas like old furniture, cloves, cracked pepper, incense and cigar ash plus cherries in liqueur (that Garnacha!). The palate is medium-bodied, with great freshness (Jorge Muga tells me the pH is stabilized with aging in barrel), acidity and balance, with a silky texture, ultra-fine tannins and great persistence and length. This wine feels younger than it is, and seems to be aging at a glacial pace. With the stuffing and balance it has this should make very old bones, and drink greatly throughout its life. Superb! At this quality level the price seems like a bargain. The highlight of the current portfolio is the 2006 vintage of Prado Enea." 96/100 Points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
"This is amazing traditional Rioja with a complexity and beauty of ripe fruit and long aging. Unique. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, tobacco, vanilla, plums and prunes. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Three years aged in oak and three years in bottle. 80% tempranillo with the rest of the classic varieties. All from high altitude vineyards." 98/100 Points, James Suckling