This sensational Reserva is truly worthy of its subheading. Though you can’t imagine that there are many non-special selections being made in Muga, this really is exceptionally fine wine. Made from a selection of the best parcels in their own vineyards and aged for a total of 44 months in oak barrels and in bottle, the wine has amazing ageing potential. Soft, smooth, elegant and medium-rich with flavours of red berry, smoky oak, coffee notes, black fruit and spice, it is utterly delicious, powerful yet balanced.

Tim Atkin, 96 points; wine of the year for 2021.

From one of the great houses of Haro, Muga’s wines are all worth getting excited about. They are the perfect living example of how to balance tradition with an embracing of the new, using oak in every part of the winemaking process, fining with egg whites (between 2 and 3 are enough for 100 litres), and yet a complete understanding of the technology in terms of vineyard research, fermentation processes, technical analyses, quality management and ISO standards that have only been available in the last twenty years or so.

The results are so obviously brilliant that one wonders why others aren’t all flocking to follow-on from Muga’s example. It could well be the cost that this devotion incurs as these are expensive philosophies to adopt; whatever the reason, there are few who consistently produce such recognisably smooth, complex and delicious wines as Muga. We’re lucky to have them.