2014 Bodegas Muga - Reserva Rioja (91 pts) @bodegasmuga

2014 Bodegas Muga - Reserva Rioja (91 pts) @bodegasmuga @jorgeordonezselections @riojawine · 🙋‍♂️ Guess how many bottles of this were made❓· ℹ️ The wine is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo (aka Carignan) and 3% Graciano. This is the flagship bottling meaning largest production wine that represents their signature style. Vines are grown in Rioja Alta subzone of Rioja planted on terraces of calcareous clay soils. Native yeast fermentation in large oak vats. Aged 24 months in barrels with French & American oak chosen and assembled into barrels by Muga’s cooper. Then aged an additional 12 months in bottle· 👁 Medium ruby color· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe strawberry, ripe bing cherry, pomegranate, oak, cedar, lead pencil, and earthy· 👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ chalky tannins, medium+ alcohol, and medium body. Spicy oak texture to the wine. Medium+ length with bright ripe red fruit with earthy notes· 🔔 Tasted blind and I failed miserably🤦‍♂️. I thought this was Sangiovese due the polished nature, elevated acidity levels, obvious large oak aging, and medium body. When I think of Rioja, I tend to think of more smokey notes (including smoked meat) from extended oak aging. Then I look for the calling card of American oak aromas of dill or coconut, but none of those were present so I discounted it. In fact I know better 🙄, especially after visiting the region and tasting the many style of Rioja. Regardless this wine is well crafted, very consistent, and widely available· In Blind, We Trust 😎