Muga Rioja Reserva 2016 Review – Green and Barrel Notes

Intense Vegetal and Barrel Notes

This Rioja blend was medium ruby in color with medium+ aromas of red cherry, black cherry, cranberry, vanilla, cedar, tar, allspice, clove, wet leaves, forest floor, and perhaps even dill that was developing. While a solid list of characteristics, we have to note that the green notes like wet leaves and forest floor were vastly more concentrated than any of the other notes listed- almost to a detriment (this is a personal preference, naturally).

On the palate, the blend was dry with medium+ acid and tannin, medium body and flavor intensity, and high alcohol. We had notes similar to the aroma like dried red cherry, black cherry, plum, red currant, vegetal notes, cedar, vanilla, and wet leaves with a medium+ finish. Again, much like the nose, the green vegetal notes were pretty intense.

Muga Rioja Food Pairing – Barbecue Pork Loin

We paired this Rioja with a barbecue pork loin that was salt brined, cooked in a sous vide, and then finished in the smoker with cherry and hickory wood and a traditional barbecue rub (plus served with barbecue sauce on the side).

The fattiness and spices of the pork helped offset the acidity and the green notes in the wine a fair bit, but our side of collard greens had the opposite effect in really amplified the already intense vegetal notes that were going on. As such, stick with the meat here and perhaps shy away from greens when drinking this one.

Score: 2 / 5

We're okay on this one.

Overall, the green vegetal notes were simply far too intense for our liking on this wine. It could probably stand to age a bit more to develop some more characters as well, and despite being good for what it is the green notes were just too much for us.

Muga can be found in Rioja, Spain. We purchased this bottle on Wine.com and enjoyed it in 2021.