Muga Library Rioja Selección Especial 2000 (750ml) *
Product price
$134.99
Description
A traditionally styled Rioja from the Alta subregion, this bottling from Muga carries the added weight of a Selección Especial, the estate's more ambitious reserve tier. The 2000 vintage saw two years of aging in a mix of French and American oak barrels, and it now arrives as a fully mature red for drinking rather than cellaring further. Rioja Alta tends toward cooler-climate finesse over sheer power, and this wine shows that balance.
The color runs deep, and the nose leans sappy and savory: plum and redcurrant up front, then damp earth, tobacco smoke, and a wisp of oak underneath. On the palate it is fat, thick, and full without turning heavy, held in check by firm acidity that keeps everything fresh and lively. There is real energy here, a silky texture, and very fine tannins that carry a long, faintly sweet finish. Strawberry and cherry notes round out a wine that has settled comfortably into its maturity.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Subregion | Rioja Alta |
| Varietal | Rioja Red Blend |
| Producer | Muga Library |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Good deep red. Sappy aromas of plum and redcurrant; less minerally than the 2001 Reserva. Fat, thick and full, but kept fresh by firm acids. A very ripe, silky, traditionally styled wine with noteworthy energy and complexity. Finishes long and sweet, with very fine tannins. Like the 2001 Reserva, this was aged for two years in French and American barriques. (Vinous, September 2005)
The 2000 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial is an outstanding effort. Revealing damp earth, seaweed, tobacco smoke, strawberry and cherry characteristics along with a hint of wood, it is a medium-bodied, fully mature Rioja to enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767. (Wine Advocate, June 2005)