The 2019 Reserva, sold as Crianza in Spain, comes from a dry and warm year with low yields and concentrated wines. The grapes from the Haro zone, the four from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano fermented destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and 80% of the volume matured in French oak and the rest in Centro European and American oak, 20% of them new, for 22 months, during which time the wine was racked every eight to nine months. This is serious and young but balanced, nuanced and complex. They are shortening the time in oak, as they feel they have better and younger barrels and think the wines need less time in oak and more time in bottle. This is very Muga, very Rioja and very good. They produced an impressive 960,000 bottles and 18,000 magnums of this. There is only one master blend that is bottled at different times. I tasted a bottle that was filled in April 2022 (because of the lack of availability of bottles!).

A harmonious red, medium-bodied and lightly juicy, layering light, creamy tannins with a pretty range of black cherry reduction, mocha, pomegranate puree and eucalyptus notes. Fresh, focused finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2028. 80,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add

Red plum and juicy black cherry flavors are cast with tar, herb and loamy earth accents in this sleek, concentrated red. Spicy, tangy finish reveals moderate tannins. Drink now through 2027. 15,800 cases made, 7,800 cases imported.??–GS??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add

The red 2017 Reserva, which is sold as Crianza in Spain, is their most popular wine, representing half of the total production of the firm. As is the norm here, it fermented in oak vats and matured in barrels, in this case for 24 months, crafted by their own coopers. The wine is fined with egg whites and kept in bottle for a further 12 months before it's released. I had the wine in the glass for a very long time, and it didn't stop improving; it started a little lactic and creamy, and then it got more and more serious. This is the only red they produced this vintage, so all the best grapes that normally go to other wines were used here; those selected grapes helped to keep the volume of this cuvée, and at the same time, it seems to have boosted the quality of this wine, which feels every bit as good as the 2016. It has a serious palate with fine, chalky tannins and very good balance. This is a textbook Muga red and a triumph over the conditions of the year, elegant and balanced, approachable now and with potential to age. In 2017, they produced 936,000 bottles of this wine.

A lively, lithe and elegant red, featuring cherry, currant and tangerine flavors that mingle with vanilla and tarragon notes. Light, firm tannins and juicy acidity keep this focused. Good intensity. Drink now through 2024. 80,000 cases made, 13,500 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add