WTN: Muga, Muga again, and Arthurs Creek

[Jenise]

Ordered at Michael Smith's Extra Virgin in Kansas City, Missouri: 2007 Muga Reserva, Rioja, Spain. Beautiful nose of black cherry fruit, boysenberry, leather, violets and fruit cake. On the palate, all that and a little meaty and big yet with the overall complexity and acidity to feel light and fresh. Delicious wine that moved us to open another Muga when we got home.

2005 Muga Reserva, Rioja, Spain: This is SO not the same as the '07. For one, it lacked the acidity we liked in the 07, and was more secondary than primary. Few nuances, if any. Clunky, heavy and very disappointing compared to expectations. I have two more bottles; hope they're better.

1996 Arthurs Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Victoria: My last bottle of a truly great little Australian cabernet from a winery I fear may have perished in that terrible firestorm of a few years ago. I didn't realize we had another and didn't expect much from this bottle. I was so wrong, it was stunning. Took a good hour to open up and unwind. Black and dried cherry fruit, blackberry, with cinnamon bark spice, cigar box and more restraint than we're accustomed to with Australian wines over here--Bob couldn't guess its origins. Very dusty tannins added both to the mystery and the elegance. I'm so sorry I didn't save this to spring on some geeks, no one would be able to place it.

I've been disappointed in the 2005 Muga Reserve, too. It felt more RIbera than Rioja, to me.

[David M. Bueker]

'05 not such a great Rioja year. '01, '04 and '07 have been the best recent years to my way of thinking.

'05 not such a great Rioja year. '01, '04 and '07 have been the best recent years to my way of thinking.

I guess I expected Muga to overcome that.

[David M. Bueker]

Every year? The Reserva is not a wine at that level.

Not every year. I just didn't expect 2005 to be quite that big an obstacle to overcome. But then I haven't really been paying attention to the Spanish vintages recently.

[Jenise]

I've been disappointed in the 2005 Muga Reserve, too. It felt more RIbera than Rioja, to me.

Good observation, though I'm sad to hear it as there goes my hopes for the other two bottles.

Jenise, my fridge is starting to look like a Third World bus, so I think you've just convinced me that at least one bottle doesn't deserve the space it's occupying.

I wish my fridge could look like a third word bus: bottles hanging by the tips of the label on top and all four sides...
Problem is that on a third world bus you might get a full ride hanging like that.
With wine, you either in or out in the heat, getting even more from the fridge.

As for Muga reserva, I think I do have a couple of bottles from 05.
I remember reading good reviews here and on the Rogov side.

2004 is a great year, my favorite to date is the Seleccion. The Prado Enea is still too young.

Eli

[Jenise]

Jenise, my fridge is starting to look like a Third World bus, so I think you've just convinced me that at least one bottle doesn't deserve the space it's occupying.

Your description made me laugh out loud. Let us know when you taste it.

Jenise, my fridge is starting to look like a Third World bus, so I think you've just convinced me that at least one bottle doesn't deserve the space it's occupying.

Your description made me laugh out loud. Let us know when you taste it.

OK, although by now I'm not so sure I want to drink it all that much. I will have to wait until I can spring it on suitably gullible house guests.