In the glass

Full-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: red and black cherry, sweet spice, cedar, dried herb

Palate: ripe red fruit, spice, fine tannin, savoury

A barrel selection above the standard Reserva, blending Muga's traditional and modern leanings into a ripe, polished but savoury 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.

History

The Seleccion Especial is a step up from the regular Muga Reserva, a barrel selection aged a little over two years in mixed oak.

  1. 1989 — Seleccion Especial introduced as a barrel-selection Reserva

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Muga
Grapes
Tempranillo (70%), Garnacha (20%), Mazuelo (7%), Graciano (3%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 26 months in French and American oak
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 28 to 45 at retail
Drinking window
5 to 20 from vintage
First vintage
1989

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 93 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2021)

Tags

cellar worthy dry full body garnacha graciano high acid mazuelo medium tannin mood elegant mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up still red tempranillo
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