Bodegas Muga 2015 Rioja Reserva, Seleccion Especial

Over the years as Bodegas Muga has gained worldwide recognition for its outstanding wines it holds on to the spirit of a family-run company. They carefully control every step of the viticultural and vinification process from the vineyards to making their own barrels and fermenting and aging the wine entirely in oak. Muga is one of only six estates in the world that owns its own cooperage and they import the oak directly from the United States and France. Bodegas Muga is one of the oldest and most traditional producers in Rioja.

This Seleccion Especial is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo that are fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats. The wine aged for 26 months in casks made in the winery with their own cooperage from selected oak, 40% new. Before bottling the wine is fined with fresh egg whites. Once bottled it ages in bottle for at least twelve months in their cellars before release.

Tim Atkin MW scored this 96 points saying "The Mugas source this exceptional, age worthy red from vineyards in Haro and the Sierra Cantabria, marrying Tempranillo with 25% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Dark, scented and plush, it has notes of liquorice and black olive, sweet blackberry fruit, floral top notes and aromatic 40% new wood underpinned by acidity. 2022-35."

James Suckling scored this 96 points saying "The balance and purity to this wine is really impressive with blackberries, black truffles and dark fruit. Wet earth. Full body. Tight and compact. Structured, long and powerful. Superb length. Compressed and polished texture. Drink in 2022."

Jeb Dunnuck scored this 95 points saying "The 2015 Selección Especial checks in as 70% Tempranillo and the balance Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that's an old vine and terroir selection. Aged 6 months in new oak followed by 24 months in 90% French oak and 10% American oak, it has a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, black raspberries, crushed violets, incense, and cedar. This gives way to a full-bodied, rich, powerful wine that has an incredible sense of elegance and finesse on the palate. It's a brilliant Rioja that can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years or more."

The Wine Advocate scored this 94 points saying "The very perfumed, expressive and floral 2015 Seleccion Especial is a lot fresher than the stereotype of the vintage I had before I tasted 2015 widely. It's a year that has turned out fresher than what the weather during the growing season pointed at. It was a dry and warm year, but the wines have very good freshness, which in this case feels exceptional. My first surprise was how aromatic and open the wine is for such a young age, with aromas of lavender and other Mediterranean herbs jumping from the glass. I expected that from the 2016s, but I thought the 2015 was going to be more closed and reticent. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, balanced, fresh and very clean. This combines energy and elegance with classical Rioja character."