Muga, Blanco, Rioja, Spain 2021

“The white 2021 Blanco was produced with a blend of Viura, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía de Rioja that fermented in oak vats and new French barriques and matured with the lees and two bâtonnages per week in the beginning and later daily for a total of four months. It’s balsamic, a little medicinal and aromatic. They keep growing in Garnacha Blanca with very good results. It’s light and fresh, with very clean aromas and flavors. 240,000 bottles produced. It was bottled at different times from a master blend.”-91WA

The Blanco is made up predominately of Viura, with the remainder a combination of Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca. While all fruit comes from Barrio de la Estación, Haro, Rioja Alta, 65% of the fruit comes from estate vineyards with the remaining fruit coming from long-term vineyard contracts in the foothills of the Montes Obarenes in Rioja Alta. The fruit is dry-farmed and was planted between 1926 and 1986, growing up on a combination of calcareous clay and alluvial soils. Upon harvest the fruit sees an eight-hour maceration in a pneumatic press, followed by fermentation (inoculated with neutral yeast) in 60% new French oak barriques and large upright vats. The wine ages for 5 months sur lie before release.

Bodegas Muga is Rioja Alta’s premier producer and the Muga family are unanimously considered to be one of Spain’s most important winemaking families. The winery has practically legendary status due to its philosophy revolving around adherence to tradition, dynamism, and winemaking of the highest quality. Few producers in the world fashion wines that have such a sense of tradition and place as Muga’s. The wines of Muga have an absolutely distinct, unique, and inimitable profile.

Bodegas Muga was officially founded in 1932 by the Muga family, who at that point had spent several decades working as viticulturists in Rioja Alta. At the time, the Mugas were in the negociant business of buying, blending, and ageing wine. Soon after the foundation of the cellars they started production of their own estate grown wines. The winery is still owned by the Mugas and every single aspect of its operation is controlled and overseen by the family.

Although the Mugas have maintained all aspects of traditional Rioja winemaking, what makes the family great is their vision for the future and adaptability, while always holding true to their philosophy.