Muga Selección Especial

D.O.Ca. Rioja

Barrio de la Estación, Haro, Rioja Alta.

70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo, 3% Graciano

Estate vineyards (65%) and vineyards leased on long term contracts, with viticulture controlled by the winery, in the foothills of the Montes Obarenes and the Sierra Cantabria, primarily in the northwestern villages of Rioja Alta.

1940-1990

Traditional Rioja viticulture that is sustainable and organic, but not certified. A blend of goblet trained and vineyards planted on high density trellises of Rioja's most classic varieties. The vineyards are not irrigated and are farmed without the use of harmful chemically synthesized fungicides, pesticides or herbicides.

Calcareous clay

Continental with Atlantic influences.

Hand-harvested and transported to the winery in one ton bins to protect the grapes from bruising and crushing. The berries are destemmed and optically sorted, but not crushed. Fermentation is started via pied de cuve in oak vats of varying sizes that are produced on the premises at Bodegas Muga. Muga is the only winery in Spain that builds its own fermentation vats. Malolactic is spontaneous and is delayed until late Spring by cooling the cellars with ambient air.

The ageing process begins with six months in new French barrique, followed by two full years in older French and American (70/30) oak barriques. These barrels are aged and coopered on Muga's premises. Muga was the first winery in Spain to have an in-house cooperage. The wines are racked throughout the ageing process and fined with fresh egg whites (cracked by hand) before bottling. The wine is aged for a minimum of 18 months in bottle before release.

Selección is only produced in top years and in varying quantities depending on the conditions of each vintage. The wine is the result of a strict selection of the family's oldest plots planted on hillsides and higher altitude sites that have poorer soils. These conditions result in lower yields and higher quality fruit. In the cellar, vinification is similar to flagship Reserva bottling, but Selección Especial sees a higher quality oak treatment, longer ageing, and a final barrel selection.