In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar
Palate: red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury
The house's calling-card Reserva, fermented in oak vats and aged in barrel; balanced, savoury and traditional, a benchmark mid-priced Rioja.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Muga Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Muga Reserva is the house's core red and one of the most recognisable Rioja Reservas internationally, made in a traditional style with the bodega's own cooperage.
- 1932 — Bodegas Muga founded and the Reserva style established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Muga
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (70%), Garnacha (20%), Mazuelo (7%), Graciano (3%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 24 months in oak, with racking and fining done in the traditional way
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 28 at retail
- Drinking window
- 4 to 18 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1932
Scores
- Tim Atkin 92 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Muga Reserva
What does Muga Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar. On the palate, red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The house's calling-card Reserva, fermented in oak vats and aged in barrel; balanced, savoury and traditional, a benchmark mid-priced Rioja.
When should I drink Muga Reserva?
Drink 4 to 18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Muga Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Muga Reserva 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 Muga Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (70%), Garnacha (20%), Mazuelo (7%), Graciano (3%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.