2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (6/6/2019)
Served blind at our tasting group, this was the highlight of the evening for me. The host opened, but did not decant, about three hours before serving. Coming off a prior wine in the lineup that had shown quite rich and jammy, this was a model of restraint. Modest red fruit, spice, firm tannins and freshening acidity put this squarely in the “classic” camp. The balance of fruit and tannin was tilted a bit towards structure, but overall it drank quite well. Certainly some cellar time could soften up the tannins a bit. Check in periodically to make sure the structure does not outlast the fruit.