Bodegas Muga is a family firm founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño. The first wines were made in an underground cellar, until in 1968, they decided to set up their own winery in a beautiful old 19th-century townhouse situated in the city of Haro. The Bodegas Muga outstanding feature is that it always uses the finest materials, combining tradition with the latest advances in winemaking so as always to give its wines the best quality without losing authenticity. The winery remains true to traditional winemaking methods such as racking the casks by gravity and fining the wine with fresh egg whites. Bodegas Muga has succeeded in combining the purest family tradition with an updated vision of the future, which has allowed them to preserve their own personality and character.

The 2016 Torre Muga is an interesting wine to write about. More interesting for me was tasting it! A blend of mostly Tempranillo with similar amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano that is made in a more modern style but will appeal to the younger and more experienced wine enthusiasts of today. The color is almost opaque with purple color on the edges. The aromas reveal a ripeness of black fruit at its peak, cassis, graphite, currant, cocoa, ripe fig, herb nuances and a hint of smokiness. Rich and concentrated showing layers of flavors that are wonderfully integrated. It is not a shy wine by any means! But what is truly remarkable is the how this wine comes together without rough edges and polished tannins that I know will become even more elegant with bottle age. The acidity is present but maintains wonderful balance all the way through to a long finish. Tasted the next day with similar results. The Torre Muga is delicious in its youth but will age for many years. Felicitaciones por un logro maravilloso!

By Perry Miroballi