Bodegas Muga Reserva 'Unfiltered' 2011

Vinous Media 91
"Deep ruby. Spice-accented aromas of dark berries, cherry pit, chocolate and candied rose, with a smoky element emerging slowly. Densely packed and sharply focused, with zesty acidity adding lift and cut to the wine's bitter cherry and redcurrant flavors. Finishes with silky, building tannins, a kick of peppery spices and strong spicy persistence. By all means give this youthful wine some aeration."~Josh Raynolds

"This 2011 wine looks back with respect towards the previous vintage, the fabulous 2010 wine, one of the greatest we have ever produced. With a totally different character, this wine shows off its elegance and soft, sweet ways, its complexity and its freshness.

Medium-high, shiny red robe, very pure, almost monochrome, but with increasing depth of colour from the rim towards the heart of the glass.

Very fruity on the nose, but with a very different profile to the 2010 wine. This vintage has rather fresher fruit and floral notes which are present in all the phases of the tasting, but without becoming dominant at any time. You can find fresh, jammy cherry, red-berry fruit compote, a touch of liquorice and aniseed, and hints of fennel and white blossom. The rich spectrum of aromas is so great that it barely leaves room for the hints of oaky spices to make an appearance. These are hard to pin down, but we think you can find traces of caramel, vanilla and coconut…
Smooth mouth-feel with a predominance of sweet, well-rounded tannins, quite a surprise when you remember the age of the wine. A presence of natural acidity which has become blurred and in no way intrudes.

There is less fruit and more spiciness in the retro nasal tasting, with cherries but also vanilla, wild shrubs, black pepper and a little leather. The floral nuances disappear in this phase.

The aftertaste is long and silky, with a curious mixture of the sweet shop and mineral sensations coming through.

It is difficult to “assign it to a sea”. The debate on whether it should be classified as a “Mediterranean” or “Atlantic” style wine is complex. Perhaps during its evolution over the next few years it will develop a sharper leaning towards one or the other."