Muga - Rioja (Blanco) 2022

Hand-harvested. After light maceration of the must with the skins in the press, this ferments in different sized wooden vats and new French-oak casks with very lightly toasted wood sourced from the Nevers region. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine remains for 4 months in the casks, with lees stirring or “bâtonage” twice per week during the first months and once a day during the final month, so as to keep the fine lees in contact with the wine to protect it from oxygen and to give a smoother mouth-feel and more complexity.

The 2022 vintage of Muga Blanco has a lovely straw-yellow colour. On the nose it reveals itself to be a complex wine, with citrus notes, such as lemon, lemon cake, floral aromas (white blossom) and stone fruit (peach), with even hints of vanilla.

On the palate, it stands out for its well-balanced acidity. This is a powerful wine in which the floral, citrus and stone fruit notes reappear in a very long finish.

A white wine that will please many types of consumer, from the uninitiated to the purists. Perfect pairing for grilled fish, shellfish and rice dishes, among others.

"The white 2022 Blanco, 70% Viura with the rest mostly Garnacha Blanca, has a significant percentage of ripe Malvasía Riojana (a grape that doesn't ripen well every year), and it might have given it an extra kick of acidity. They blend wine from barrel and tank, which they started doing in 2016, and reduce the effect of the oak, especially the toast. They have discarded Tempranillo Blanco. This is still fresh and balanced, ripe and powerful, with 14% alcohol, but it keeps a low pH. It’s clean and tasty, with a spicy twist but no obvious oak." - 90+ points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Very pretty aromas of honeysuckle, apple and pear with hints of stone. Medium body. Crisp and vivid with a stony undertone. Crisp and delicious. Blend of mostly viura with garnacha blanca and malvasia. Only 60% wood in this." - 92 points, James Suckling

Producer: Muga 

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Varietal: Viura, Garnacha, Malvasia 

Appellation: Rioja

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml