Muga Library Rioja Selección Especial 2001 (750ml) *
Product price
$139.99
Description
A blend built around Tempranillo (roughly 70 percent) with Garnacha filling in and a smaller measure of Mazuelo and Graciano rounding it out, this is Muga's Selección Especial from Rioja Alta, a bottling reserved for the strongest years. The 2001 spent six months in large foudres before moving to smaller French and American oak barrels for two years, the kind of extended élevage that trades youthful fruit for layered complexity. This is a library release now at full maturity.
The bouquet is a slow unfolding of cedar, cigar box, and cured tobacco, with black cherry and dark currant underneath and touches of licorice, spice, and vanilla. On the palate it is full-bodied and opulent yet carries a surprising elegance for a wine of this depth, the dark fruit turning chocolatey and threaded with exotic spice and earth. Tannins have softened into something polished and lush, acidity stays gentle and harmonious, and the finish is broad and long, closing on lingering cherry. It drinks beautifully now.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Subregion | Rioja Alta |
| Varietal | Rioja Red Blend |
| Producer | Muga Library |
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The outstanding 2001 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial (70% Tempranillo, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano) was aged 24 months in small French and American oak after having spent 6 months in large foudres. A complex bouquet of cedar, spice box, black cherries, currants, licorice, and vanilla is followed by a full-bodied, opulent, rich red boasting loads of fruit, surprising elegance for a wine of this depth and richness, and impeccable balance. It should drink well for 10-12 years. (Wine Advocate, August 2006)
Dark red. Wild, smoky aromas of cherry, plum, dried flowers, cigar box, cured tobacco, maple and chestnut honey. Deep, supple and sweet, the dark fruit flavors wonderfully complicated by exotic spice and earth notes and supported by gentle, harmonious acidity. The tannins here are ample but polished and lush. Finishes sweet, broad and long, with a lingering cherry quality. (Vinous, September 2006)
Drinking at full maturity, the 2001 Selección Especial (70% Tempranillo, 20% Grenache, and the rest Mazuelo and Graciano) offers terrific complexity in its dark currant fruits, tobacco leaf, spice, and cedar aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, silky, and evolved on the palate, it has lots of chocolatey fruit, integrated tannins, and a terrific finish. It’s not going to get better yet should have a gradual decline from this point. (Jeb Dunnuck, September 2019)