Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2016: best 2026 to 2046.

vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Tim Atkin reviewed 2022201696/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long finish

Aroma: black cherry, cassis, graphite, violet, mocha

Palate: concentrated black fruit, espresso, velvet tannin, mineral

Muga's icon wine, a tiny-production Tempranillo-Graciano from old vines aged in new French oak; concentrated, polished and ageworthy, the house's collector bottle.

What it pairs with

With cheese

How to serve Aro

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey, Aged hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Aro is Muga's icon wine, made in tiny quantities from selected old-vine parcels and aged in new French oak.

  1. 2000First Aro vintage as the house icon wine

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Muga · visiting guide
Grapes
Tempranillo (70%), Graciano (30%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 24 months in new French oak
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 200 to 400 at retail
Drinking window
10 to 30 from vintage
First vintage
2000

Frequently asked about Aro

What does Aro taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, cassis, graphite, violet, mocha. On the palate, concentrated black fruit, espresso, velvet tannin, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Muga's icon wine, a tiny-production Tempranillo-Graciano from old vines aged in new French oak; concentrated, polished and ageworthy, the house's collector bottle.

When should I drink Aro?

Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Aro?

Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets Aro's concentrated cassis-and-graphite density.

Is Aro vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in Aro?

The blend is Tempranillo (70%), Graciano (30%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Tags

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