Incredible Rioja
Happy International Tempranillo Day 🍷 I thought it would be fitting to take a picture of this amazing Spanish wine in front pictureI took in Girona, Spain 🇪🇸
Years ago I tasted my first Rioja wine on my birthday and it was a Muga Reserva. Instantly I fell in love with this big, dark, intensely complex wine. Tempranillo is indigenous to Northern Spain and grown across the north and central regions Spain. Tempranillo is generally blended with Garnacha, Mazuelo, Viura and Graciano. Tempranillo is also known in Portugal are Tinta Roriz and Aragonéz.
When buying a Rioja it’s important to understand labeling laws for reds - the great thing is that they do all the aging for you before releasing the wines to the consumer:
Joven: a young red wine with no aging requirements
Crianza: Aged for 2 years with a minimum of 6 months oak barrel aging before release
Reserva: Aged for 3 years with a minimum of 12 months oak barrel aging before release
Gran Reserva: Aged for 5 years with a minimum of 18 months oak barrel aging before release
Muga is a benchmark in Rioja. The grapes are sourced from the Rioja Alta, many of which are in higher elevation with long, slow aging in oak barrels. “Bodegas Muga uses oak throughout all the wine-making process (fermentation, ageing and storing). Bodegas Muga is one of the very few Spanish wineries that employ three coopers plus a "cubero" (who specializes in the big casks). They are in charge of working with the oak wood that will finally give that unique and personal touch to our wines. “ In addition the wines are fermented solely with its indigenous yeasts in oak vats.
Muga Reserva Rioja Unfiltered 2014 is a dark ruby color with intense aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, leather, tobacco, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, dried figs and dill. Palate is dry, lively acid, fine grained, rich tannins; flavors of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, leather, tobacco, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, dried figs, violet, cherry, chocolate, oak, dill with a loooonnnnggg finish. Just delicious.
If you like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Agiorgitiko or Aglianico give Tempranillo a try! Bolder, aged Tempranillo wines
Pairs well with Jamón Iberico, smoky grilled steak, gourmet beef and blue cheese burgers, rack of lamb or tomato based dish such as lasagna. The wine has the high acidity , fine tannins and savory qualities to hold up to many pairings.
