Muga Rioja Reserva, Tempranillo, 2015, Rioja, Spain, 92 points WA, 94p, Suckling

From the Benchmark producer in the Rioja region of Spain, Muga presents the 2015 Rioja Reserva:

One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak. Blackberries, currants, cigar wrapper, cedar box, and hints of vanilla all flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, beautiful Rioja that has ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. You couldn't go wrong with a case of this. (9/2019)

Complex nose with ripe black cherries, deeply integrated cedary oak, baking spices, dried flowers, leather, fresh tobacco and earthy notes. This is silky and mellow with long, laid-back tannins that deliver ripe dark plum flavors into a spicy and earthy finish. Drink or hold. (JS) (2/2018)

The 2015 Reserva had just been bottled, and it should be released around January 2019 in the international market and in Spain (as Crianza) in October 2018. This was a very long harvest (similar to 2016). They started at the end of August with the Cava, and they finished at the end of October with very healthy grapes, good yields and very good quality. The wine shows very good ripeness but without any excess. It has incipient complexity, still young and undeveloped but with very good balance between power and elegance, with fine-grained tannins and integrated acidity. This has to be one of the best recent vintages of this popular bottling.

• One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Muga Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak.