Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2006 - 750ml

93pts Wine Enthusiast

Rich yet subdued on the bouquet, with elegant tobacco, lemon peel and earthy scents, this feels lush and full of heft, but it’s not plodding or heavy. Flavors of spiced black fruit, molasses and tobacco are nice, and the finish features a long, dry, comfortable fade. Drink this winner now - 2016.

92pts Wine Spectator

Alluring notes of blackberry, lilac, licorice and espresso mingle in this polished red. Focused, featuring a supple texture, a firm core of tannins and plenty of racy acidity.

92pts Vinous

(70% tempranillo, 20% garnacha and the rest mazuelo and graciano): Saturated ruby. Pungent cherry and dark berry aromas, with spice and floral nuances adding complexity. Sweet and concentrated, but with excellent cut and vivacity to its dark fruit flavors. Builds and deepens toward the back, finishing with a sappy floral quality and resonating spiciness. Offers very good richness of flavor with no excess fat.

91pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2006 Seleccion Especial spends thirty months in oak, the first year in French oak and then is racked into “neutral,” three to seven year oak for the remainder. The nose is well-defined with ripe blackberry, bilberry, iodine and a touch of vanilla derived from the wood. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe blackberry, leather and a touch of sage, building nicely towards a voluminous, tannic finish that easily supports the weight of toasty fruit. It deserves several years cellaring. Drink 2016-2025.

Tasting Notes

Against a background of red berries, jammy fruit and liqueur fruits, spices such as cloves, black pepper or vanilla pods come through. At the same time, neither above nor below, you can detect leather, smoked and toasted wood and animal nuances. It is a wine without end.

With no sharp edges, on the palate it is silky, friendly and overflowing with harmony. The aftertaste, eternally long, finally ends with reminders of candies which interweave, in the retronasal phase, with the full range of the spices detected on the nose.

Winery Notes

Bodegas Muga is a family business founded by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño in 1932, which is located in the historic Barrio de La Estación (Station Quarter) of Haro. With an area of around 25,000 square metres, it is home to both the most traditional winemaking methods and the latest cutting-edge techniques.

Blend: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano