Descripción

Del "triángulo mágico" que trazan las localidades de Villalba, Haro y Labastida proceden las uvas de Tempranillo, Mazuelo y Graciano que integran este tinto persistente, elegante, amable y franco. Torre Muga es problablemente el vino de corte más moderno de la bodega riojana y esta añada 2019 vuelve a cosechar las más altas puntuaciones de la crítica.

Ficha técnica

La bodega
Bodegas Muga
Tipo
Tinto
Añada
2019
Grado
14.5% vol.
Variedad
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano
Origen
Rioja

Cata

Vista
De capa alta y un destacable color rojo con ribetes morados que nos hablan de su juventud y potencial de evolución.
Nariz
Sobresale una intensidad alta de mora y fresa. Destacan notas ahumadas de su crianza en madera de roble francés de primera calidad, creando una armonía inigualable.
Boca
Potente, destacando los mismos aromas que en nariz, con buen equilibrio entre el alcohol y la acidez y con unos taninos suaves y elegantes. El final es muy largo en dejando una sensación de plenitud.
Temperatura de servicio
16 ºC.
Consumo
Hasta 2035, aproximadamente, si se conserva en óptimas condiciones.
Maridaje
Ideal con carnes rojas de larga maduración, platos de caza y pescados blancos a la brasa.

Viñedo y elaboración

Suelo
Arcillo-calcáreo y aluvial.
Cosecha
Vendimia manual.
Vinificación
La fermentación natural y espontánea en depósitos de madera sin control de temperaturas con levaduras indígenas. La maceración entre 2 y 3 semanas.
Envejecimiento
Crianza durante 18 meses en barricas nuevas de roble francés del departamento de Allier.
Embotellado
A principios de 2019, previa una ligera clarificación con clara de huevo fresco.

Opinión de los críticos

Jeb Dunnuck:

The 2019 Torre Muga is always a more powerful, ripe expression of Rioja that never loses its sense of place. Deep ruby/purple, with a glorious bouquet of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, pure, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, and good acidity. It's young, unevolved, yet oh, so promising. Hide bottles for 7-8 years if you can, and it will cruise for 20-30 years. The blend is 80% Tempranillo and the balance Mazuelo and Graciano, aged 18 months in French oak.

James Suckling:

Intense nose of black fruit, ink, roasted espresso, black truffle and dried rosemary. It’s full-bodied with so much power and concentration. Firm but very velvety and integrated tannins. Deep core of black fruit. Yet, it’s not heavy. Long. One for the cellar. Try this from 2027.

The Wine Advocate:

The 2019 Torre Muga showcases the classical blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo (Cariñena) and Graciano, all from old and some ancient vines. The grapes are harvested into 200-kilogram boxes, the bunches destemmed and the grapes put through optical sorting to ferment in small oak vats with indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in new French oak barrels, where the wine aged after racking for some 18 months, during which time it was racked every eight to nine months. It was fined with egg whites. 2019 is a great vintage for Muga, and they produced quality and quantity, which is remarkable. This has a slightly more modern profile and some French oak undertones, more noticeable in a wide glass and subtler in a narrower one. But it has stuffing, freshness and balance to absorb it in the short to medium term. And it's a year of power and finesse, one of the best in recent years. 47,880 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2021.

Tim Atkin:

Torre Muga was always regarded as the most ‘modern’ of the bodega's wines, although the difference was sometimes exaggerated. Aged in new French barrels, it’s a very polished assemblage of Tempranillo with 15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano that was made with both eyes on the future. Toasty, dense and concentrated, with coffee bean and chocolate aromas and intense blackberry and black cherry fruit. 2026-40