Country: Spain Region: Rioja Varietal: Tempranillo / Garnacha Blend Vintage: 2015 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Bodegas Muga Description: This Super-Spanish legend is one of the wine-world's great bargains... I’ve been lucky enough to try various vintages of Prado Enea from the 1970s and they were absolutely stunning, comfortably sitting alongside 2nd Growth Bordeaux, with glorious savoury complexity, energy, and balance. So the delicious latest release of Muga’s flagship Rioja, Prado Enea, is a wine you might consider. Like many allocation wines, I have been able to secure just 90 bottles of this wine and when it’s gone, we’ll have Muga reserva, but little or none of the Prado Enea until next year’s vintage is allocated. You can also see from below how this wine can pay as an investment also.  The qualities that the fruit gains from the very high, cool vineyard that forms this superstar are so clear to see here; it is generous and rich but with true grace, balance, and confidence. We bought all that we could of this Gran Reserva immediately upon tasting, particularly as they only make the Prado Enea in the best years (and they didn’t bottle any 2007, 2008, 2012, or 2013!).   This is one of the great wine-trade inside-tips, which will drink wonderfully now and will also thoroughly reward ageing for 20+ years. And, with the lesser 1994 trading at well over 2 times the price, it makes it an even finer prospect… a wine investment if you can keep your eyes off it.   In February’s Decanter Magazine, Sarah Jane Evans Master of Wine lists her top 20 Gran Reserva Riojas this year. The first is La Rioja Alta 890 which costs over €210 per bottle. The second, is Muga Prado Enea at just €75 per bottle! ‘Wonderful; A Superb Gran Reserva, so finely balanced between between the silky tannins and the elegance of maturity. It’s fermented in oak, and spends three years in American and French oak barrels. (All made by the in house cooper). It then spends a further three years in bottle. 2015 made powerful wines, but this is supremely controlled. My favourite from the Muga stable.  – Drink from 2023 – 2070. Alc: 14.5% Sarah Jane Evans MW, Decanter Magazine Tasting Note The wine exhibits an attractive, deep, cherry colour. The nose is fresh and complex expressing aromas of blackberry forest fruit and prunes, while notes of cocoa, vanilla and subtle toast also come through denoting an ageing in top quality oak. Fresh on the palate with very well-integrated acidity. A lovely, pleasant mouth-feel with a good lingering finish. Clean and fresh with great ageing potential. This wine pairs well with casseroles, meat dishes, fish and cheese; and it can even be enjoyed on its own, without any accompaniment. Food Matches: Goat Cheese / Beef / Lamb / Veal