Bodegas Muga - el Anden de la Estacion 2021
Price: $27.99
6+ Price: $19.99 / btl
| Producer | Bodegas Muga |
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| Country | Spain |
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| Region | Rioja |
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| Varietal | Tempranillo, Grenache |
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| Vintage | 2021 |
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| Sku | 19411 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Bodegas Muga is arguably the most famous and important winery in Rioja, if not all of Spain. The Muga family strives to maintain the traditional winemaking process of Rioja – every aspect of production is still carried out in oak barrels and vats. And yet, their wines taste nothing like the Rioja you may have cut your teeth on 15 or so years ago.
That’s because they are fanatical about their oak. So much so they have their own master cooper and a team of barrel makers. Each year, the family travels to France and other countries to purchase trees. Yep. Trees. Not boards or staves… they buy entire trees after careful inspection to make sure they meet their standards. Once in Spain, the cooperage team fashions them into barrels. Barrels range from the traditional 225 liter size to – wait for it - 50,000 Liters!!! You could stand on the shoulders of your best friend and still not reach the top of the barrel!
The point is – not all oak usage is the same. Muga is hyper-focused on finding the right balance of size, age, toast level, etc to perfectly balance the wine.
El Anden de la Estacion is Muga’s newest project. Translated, it means the “station platform”. At its simplest, the name is a reference to Muga’s location near the Haro train station. It is also a reference to the wine’s place as Muga’s entry-level red. As in… you’re at the platform, ready to get on the Muga train! And trust me, after tasting this juicy red, aboard you will be!
Aromas of cherries and blackberries lead into a gorgeously plush wine, loaded with flavors of the same along with notes of espresso, spicecake all balanced by fine acidity and smooth tannins.
Wine Advocate: 91 Points
“It's a red with a very commercial profile: approachable, juicy, fruit driven and with very integrated oak. It's a blend of Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha, with 15% alcohol (the effect of Garnacha). It is showy, ripe, a bit heady and hedonistic, but it keeps the balance with good freshness. The wine has quite a lot of Garnacha character—grapey, chewy, velvety and easy to drink. They do not use any new barrels. The wine is aged for some 14 months, and the oak is very integrated and folded into the wine. This will be ideal for the by-the-glass market.”
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