A family-owned winery that was founded in 1932, Bodegas Muga is one of the "first growths" of Rioja according to Master of Wine Tim Atkins. It's stylistically among the "more modern of the traditionalists," which we've found to be a sweet spot for many of our customers. Full-bodied and densely-packed with ripe dark fruits, woodsy balsam, and the typical notes of bottle aging (tobacco, forest floor, truffle). There's a velvet quality to the ample tannins (thanks to extended aging), along with enough acidity to give the wine life. It's sure to impress almost any wine lover, especially accompanying rich dishes like roasts with truffle, as well as well-aged cheeses.
Despite the modern advances in winemaking of which Muga makes use, the old-world ways are certainly still a big influence on Prado Enea's classical style: the fermentation happens naturally without added yeasts, in large 1000 Liter oak vats at natural temperatures, and a long 4 years aging in large American oak vats and smaller French oak barrels. In order to make a more complete wine, and as is typical in Rioja, the dominant Tempranillo is partnered with the classic varieties Garnacha, Mazuelo (aka Carignan), and Graciano.
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The most classical of their wines, the 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, mostly from Rioja Alta (Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche), but the Garnacha is from different plots in the zone of Tudelilla at high altitude. These grapes are always picked last, but the wine has a similar alcohol level as the rest, around 14.5% in a warm year like 2019. The modus operandi is similar to other of the top cuvées—harvested into 200-kilogram boxes, destemming, optical sorting and fermentation in small oak casks with indigenous yeasts. The élevage in this case is extended to 36 months, and the barrels are only 10% new. This is, year in, year out, my favorite wine from Muga, and in this powerful and ripe year, these late-harvesting vines ripened thoroughly and delivered a full array of aromas and flavors so that the wine has plenty of depth and complexity. It has a very classical profile, with incipient tertiary notes, perfumed, floral and rich, textured and beautifully balanced. They compare this 2015 with 2009 and 2005 in terms of style but with freshness in the style of 2001 and 2010. It's enjoyable but should also develop for a long time in bottle. One of the finest Prado Enea vintages. 108,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018. There's no 2012 or 2013 of this. There will be a 2016 and 2019, but no 2017 or 2018. 2020 is still a question mark, they have not yet decided it."
Despite the modern advances in winemaking of which Muga makes use, the old-world ways are certainly still a big influence on Prado Enea's classical style: the fermentation happens naturally without added yeasts, in large 1000 Liter oak vats at natural temperatures, and a long 4 years aging in large American oak vats and smaller French oak barrels. In order to make a more complete wine, and as is typical in Rioja, the dominant Tempranillo is partnered with the classic varieties Garnacha, Mazuelo (aka Carignan), and Graciano.
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The most classical of their wines, the 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, mostly from Rioja Alta (Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche), but the Garnacha is from different plots in the zone of Tudelilla at high altitude. These grapes are always picked last, but the wine has a similar alcohol level as the rest, around 14.5% in a warm year like 2019. The modus operandi is similar to other of the top cuvées—harvested into 200-kilogram boxes, destemming, optical sorting and fermentation in small oak casks with indigenous yeasts. The élevage in this case is extended to 36 months, and the barrels are only 10% new. This is, year in, year out, my favorite wine from Muga, and in this powerful and ripe year, these late-harvesting vines ripened thoroughly and delivered a full array of aromas and flavors so that the wine has plenty of depth and complexity. It has a very classical profile, with incipient tertiary notes, perfumed, floral and rich, textured and beautifully balanced. They compare this 2015 with 2009 and 2005 in terms of style but with freshness in the style of 2001 and 2010. It's enjoyable but should also develop for a long time in bottle. One of the finest Prado Enea vintages. 108,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018. There's no 2012 or 2013 of this. There will be a 2016 and 2019, but no 2017 or 2018. 2020 is still a question mark, they have not yet decided it."
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