The beautiful 2005 Muga Blanco is a modern-styled white composed of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, all aged four months in French oak. This impressive, dry, elegantly-styled Rioja offers scents of honeysuckle, citrus oil, white currants, and flowers. Drink it over the next year.

For a good price you get a lot of white wine here. Muga barrel ferments this Viura, so there’s popcorn and richness to the nose, but it’s not overwhelming. And in the mouth, the lemon, orange and tangerine flavors are flat-out lovely. Pour a glass of this with your next platter of sizzling garlic shrimp and you’ll be in heaven.——M.S.(9/1/2007)—— 89