Rioja Wines from Bodegas Torre Muga: Icons of Spanish Wines

Dick Clark’s death was quite disheartening. This man was an icon! He gave us memorable entertainment – the kind everyone could watch especially the kids. His death started me thinking about icons in general.

Icons exist in all industries. How many times have you heard “Donald Trump the icon of business” or “Oprah Winfrey the icon of television talk shows? Even iconoclasts like Steve Jobs eventually become icons.

The wine world has icons as well – like the region of Rioja and the no less iconic winery, Bodegas Torre Muga. Taking into account that the word “icon” means a representative symbol of something, with Rioja and Torre Muga you have found two icons that are the very definition of icon.

Rioja is located in north central Spain between the Cantabria and Demanda mountain ranges, just south of the Basque country. The Ebro River winds through the region providing much needed moisture and creating a variety of microclimates within the area.

Although Rioja wines are blended much like Bordeaux, most everyone is interested in the region’s iconic grape – Tempranillo. Tempranillo is an early ripening varietal; hence the name. Temprano” means early in Spanish but wines made from Tempranillo can age for what seems like forever. The grape characteristically has plum flavors with an herbal, leafiness about it. But you can’t have a good Rioja without Manzuelo, Graciano and Garnacha. And the region also grows white varietals: Malvasia and Viura.

The Muga Family has been in the wine business since the 17th century and the wines they create embody the very essence of Spain: historic, flavorful, full of character and powerful. I’d compare Bodegas Torre Muga to another icon – Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz makes cars but they are not all the same; some are sedans, some coupes and still others are sports models but they all have design, power and luxury in common. Same goes! Bodegas Torre Muga makes wine but they are not all the same.

For example: The Muga 2007 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha with the last 10% a combination between Mazuelo and Graciano. The wine is then aged six months oak vats, 24 months in small oak barrels and a minimum of 12 months in bottle. The outcome is a powerful wine that is balanced between the fruit flavors and oak.

Made from 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano (See the subtle difference? No Garnacha.), the Torre Muga 2006 was aged for six months in wooden vats, 18 months in new French oak barrels and then another 12 months in bottle. No wonder the tannins are so soft they almost have sweetness to them.

Bodegas Torre Muga makes many other wines including a white, a rosé and a cava (sparkling wine) but we will stop with the Gran Reserva 2004 Prado Enea. This one is made from 80% Tempranillo with the rest a blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Get this: the wine is aged 12 months in oak vats, then another 36 months in oak casks and then another 36 months in the bottle. That’s (had to use all fingers and toes) seven years of aging!

Imagine holding onto a wine for seven years – amazing and so is the wine! The Gran Reserva 2004 Prado Enea is flawless with spice and fruit and leather aromas and oakiness on the palate.

These wines make incomparable pairings to typical Spanish dishes as well as roast suckling pig, Moroccan lamb tajine, sautéed mushrooms, chestnut soup or try with a plate of Spain’s own Drunken Goat cheese, green olives and almonds.