Muga's 2012 Reserva achieves a nice balance between traditional and modern Rioja. Mostly Tempranillo, with Garnacha warmth and fruit, Graciano acidity, and Mazuela in support. A lifted nose with aromas and flavours of florals, red and dark fruit, dill, balsamic, vanillin and a touch of VA. Good depth, balance, resolved tannin and excellent length. As a Vintages Essential the Reserva often goes on sale and represents great value. Jan. 2018.

Here's a full bodied Rioja that offers a harmonious mix of ripe fruit and wood and just a tad of earthiness on the backend. This seems just a bit harsh at the moment, another two or three years in the cellar would really make this bottle sing.

Elegant, lighter style of Rioja

Description: Deep, dark almost opaque ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, plum, strawberry, blackberry, vanilla, leather and fresh cut carnations on the nose. Medium body with medium+ tannin, , good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Priced on the higher end, but well worth it.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Sage Cornish Game Hens with Pomegranate Molasses.

Tasted: 10 December 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Staring to show just a hint of pale red at the edge. Not as fruit forward as I recall other vintages, and more classically Rioja with wood spice to the fore. Med to full bodied and good complexity. But I feel I may have been better off opening this earlier, or leaving it another couple of years. Tannins are still fairly severe, but fruit has faded. Seems in a transition phase at the moment and not showing its best.