September 23, 2016

MUGA "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva 2005

(Rioja, Spain) $50

Muga (which I’ve drunk for 25 years) is one of the top producers of traditionally-styled Rioja. These are wines evocative of rich coffee, old leather-bound books, unlit cigars, cool dirt, spicy incense, and a subtle sweet vanilla-cherry character that is mind-blowingly delicious. Primarily a blend of tempranillo and garnacha, Prado Enea is an utterly silky Gran Reserva that spends four years in barrels of different sizes, before being aged by the bodega for another three years in bottle. It tastes like it costs twice as much as it does, and is a wine that invites surrender.

96 points

Available at Manchester Wine & Liquors

The Single Perfect Cheese for Wine

Cathy Corison is always one of the first winemakers to harvest in the Napa Valley. When we asked her about perfect ripeness, here’s what she said:

“Waiting to pick so long that the bright red and blue flavors are gone, along with most of the natural acidity, is not my idea of ripeness. Once those have departed, you can’t get them back. I often hear it said that ‘the flavors aren’t there yet’ when, for my style of wine, they’ve come and gone.”

—Cathy Corison, Winemaker/Owner Corison Vineyards, Napa Valley

MUGA "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva 2005

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