Rioja: CVNE Winery guided visit and wine tasting
With this visit, you can discover centuries-old wines in the Wine Cemetery, personalize bottles, and taste unique flavors at the Wine Bar, among other activities.
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2022 to 2036.
vintage4 yrs18 yrs20 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2018 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
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.More wines for lamb →
- Chuleton de buey a la brasa A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
- Jamon iberico Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.More wines for ham →
With cheese
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.
- 1932Bodegas Muga founded and the Reserva style established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Muga · visiting guide
- 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
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.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tastings near Bodegas Muga
La Rioja: Guided Bike Tour
Discover the natural landscape of Ezcaray. Visit the hidden gems wineries of La Rioja. Explore where the Spanish Language born in San Millan. Feel like a pilgrim doing...
La Rioja: CM Matarromera Winery Tour with Barrel Tasting
Discover the CM Matarromera Winery in San Vicente de la Sonsierra on a guided tour. Explore the vineyard, barrel park, and underground cellar, and enjoy a guided tasti...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Rioja (14) · Wine tours and day trips in Rioja (13)