Muga Reserva, Rioja, 2019

Muga Reserva, Rioja, 2019, 14.5% abv.

Yes, I know, infantcide. Supposedly 80% French and 20% American oak casks. Wish I could keep it longer.

Nose: initially surprisingly flat, metallicly sour, sour red grape skins. After an hour, still light, still flat, almost nothing. If I had to push it, I would say I'm getting some light grapes and a hint of floral elements. Never gets expressive, yeah I know, the wine glass.

Palate: initially light and then becomes more savory, similar to a decent cabernet sauvignon flavor set, gets more dry with each sip, red grapes, quite linear…. but after an hour wow! sweet and juicy but not jammy, notably strawberries, but on the back palate there are also an accompaniment of black cherries with a hint of kiwi without the tarty sour elements, salty curry powder, hint of soy sauce, tolerable star anise. With time it becomes more tannic, but not astringent, tons of graphite, and I am finally feeling the alcohol on the tongue.

Finish: short, dryness which prolongs with subsequent sips, light ripe rapsberries, hint of milk chocolate, light fruit tea, with more sips the tannins dominate.

Vernacular: nose is closed, medium body, moderate acidity, chewey tannins, high minerality… which is probably amplified by the tannins, some alcohol. Short finish showing acidity but the tannic dryness lasts a while.

Had this after/with a microwavable pizza. It's quite enjoyable after an hour, with the sweet fruit and "acidity", but it's obviously young. Surprised at how dry it gets with each sip, but then again what should I expect with high tannins and >14% abv? James Suckling gave this a 94 in 2022, Luis Gutierrez at Wine Advocate gave this a 94 in 2022, Mike Desimone at Wine Enthusiast gave this a 92 in 2023, and Tim Atkin gave this a 93 in 2022. I believe I got this at around KRW₩40K/USD$31 at Bottle Bunker in Changwon, South Korea and I've seen it at KRW₩55K/USD$42 as well.

Grade: C+