2004 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Tempranillo Reserva Rioja

SKU #1047638 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2004 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial is deep crimson-colored. Dense and packed, it offers up aromas of cedar, spice box, mineral, pencil lead, and assorted black fruits. It nicely conceals enough structure for 6-8 years of evolution. This lengthy effort should drink well through 2030. (2/ 2008)

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Saturated ruby color. Oak-spiced raspberry and boysenberry aromas are complemented by smoky minerals, pipe tobacco and incense. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, displaying impressively concentrated red and dark berry liqueur flavors and a late note of candied licorice. A strong cherry-vanilla quality lingers on the long, sappy finish. Extremely impressive Rioja, deftly balancing energy and power. (10/ 2008)

92 points Wine Spectator

Ripe black fruit flavors mingle with espresso, anise and mint notes in this bold red. Firm tannins support a thick texture; there's plenty of oak and alcohol, but enough acidity for balance. Best from 2009 through 2020. (9/ 2008)

K&L Notes

Situated in the famous 'Barrio de la estacion' in Haro, Muga counts amongst its neighbors La Rioja Alta and Lopez de Heredia - formidable company indeed. Nevertheless, Muga continues to live up to its reputation for producing authentic, top-notch Riojas that both classicists and modernists can appreciate. Think of this 'reserva seleccion especial' bottling as sort of a reserva plus. It's fermented with native yeasts in large American oak foudres, aged for 30 months in a mixture of American and French barriques, and then rests in bottle for another 12 months. Produced from 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano, this wine is absolutely gran reserva level quality. In fact, it has loads more character, appeal and ageability than most commercial gran reservas, as well as that typical Muga richness and texture which make for a truly memorable Rioja.