I love a good Rioja, deep beautiful colour, inviting nose, full body, fruity and oaky. I love all the things that others list when saying why they are not partial to them. But, when the Tempranillo-Granacha blend is right, how could you not love its richness? This Muga Reserva, 2008, is very close to perfection. Match it right (food and company wise) and it is a winner!

The 2008 Muga Reserva has intense aromas of dusty cherry, pomegranate and cigar box. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with balanced structure of good acidity and refined tannins (decant for 30 min), and a long finish that is not oak dominated. This wine is food friendly as well as a sipper. It is ready to drink now and shall be for the next 10+ years. My impression: NICE, 90 pts – recommended buy based on both quality and value. Tasted January/13.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections and
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/lcbo-deals/

or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

Medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid wine

Positives: This easy drinking wine features cedar, sour cherry, cigar box, tobacco leaf, pimientos, roasted red peppers with Radicchio & pomegranate on the finish. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Aged 24 months in French & American oak casks. Serve between 16°C and 18° C

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with meat stuffed red peppers - Pimientos Rellenos de Carne.

Tasted: 6 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

This ruby coloured Rioja sips very nicely. I get black cherry, pepper, vanilla, and toasty oak. Tannins are grainy, so decant (or lay down for a year). Good length, some bitterness towards the end and a bit of heat (serve slightly chilled). This wine's acidity, fruit and tannins make it a good pairing for a wide variety of food. All in all a nice Rioja. Grip it n' sip it! July 2013.