Muga Rioja Reserva 2021

94 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "The grapes for the 2021 Reserva (sold as Crianza in Spain), mostly Tempranillo with some Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano, were picked late in a cooler year when they finished the harvest the 20th of October, with plenty of times for the grapes to develop full aromas and flavors and complete ripeness. It fermented destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, separating qualities, villages and soils, and matured in 80% French and 20% American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 24 months, with racking every eight to nine months. It's a textbook example of their style in a very good year, with power, concentration and clout, elegance and freshness. It was a very harmonious year; the cycle was long and the tannins ripened to perfection. It's terrific... It was fined with egg whites and bottled in January 2024. Drink: 2025-2040. (2/27/25)"

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The winery’s flagship, the wine that introduced Muga to the world, the 2021 Muga Reserva is Tempranillo-dominant, with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano filling in the gaps. A larger-production wine, it offers tremendous quality, fermented in wooden vats using indigenous yeasts, the grapes separated by quality, soil type, and village origin. This one in particular is from a beautiful vintage and practically beams in full-bodied concentration, with supple, silky tannins and light touches of oak spice, cedar, balsamic, and white pepper. A new release, it should continue to thrive another 15-20 years. Drink: 2025-2045. (7/30/25)"

94 points Tim Atkin, MW: "As good as you'd expect it to be in a vintage like 2021, a year that Isaac Muga compares to the legendary 2001, this is a beautifully poised blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo from vineyards around Haro. The French and 20% American oak is very well handled here, framing a palate of bramble, blackberry and sweet spices complemented by chalky minerality and fine tannins. 2026-2035. (2025)"

93 points Zekun Shuai (JamesSuckling.com): "A plush yet fresh Rioja showing blackberries, dark plums, fine spices, cocoa powder and a touch of roasted red chile peppers. Medium- to full-bodied and juicy, with firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, bright finish showing some graphite, blackberries and dark chocolate. Tempranillo, garnacha, graciano and mazuelo. Drink now or hold. (8/7/24)"

92 points/'#1 Wine Value of the Year 2025,' Wine Spectator: "[$39 list] This is fresh and minerally up front, opening to reveal a fine mesh of chopped cherry and plum skin flavors, with fragrant hints of ground coffee, smoked paprika and dried marjoram. Sculpted tannins define the long, slightly chewy finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2035. (5/31/25)"

Producer notes: "Tempranillo, Garnacha tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano. This 2021 vintage has a bright ruby-red colour, with medium depth and a garnet-tinged rim. On the nose you discover an intense, complex wine. Aromas of wild fruits of the forest (blackberries and blueberries) come to the fore, with hints of spices. On the palate it is long, elegant and nicely balanced. Its sharp acidity is perfectly integrated and it has soft tannins. The finish is very long and full of fruit. Perfect for drinking now but, thanks to its good balance and structure, it can be kept in the bottle for several years. Food Pairing: This wine will be an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes like a ribeye steak, as well as with charcuterie and all kinds of casseroles."