WTN: Muga Shot

[Jenise]

Served Saturday night with a chopped salad of walnuts, cucumber, radicchio, frisee and blue cheese:

2021 Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco Viura, Macabeo
Seductive jasmine notes on the nose with creamy charmoya, apple on the midpalate and tarragon and jasmine on the finish. Refreshingly exotic and familiar at the same time with perfect acidity. Everyone loved it. I've always enjoyed the Bianco--when I could find it, which is rare--and this was no exception. Perhaps it's even the best yet, so I have no idea what the detractors who posted previously about this wine on CT were on about--salty? not even close. We and our guests enjoyed it so much we just ordered another case to split.

22 Cda here and lots of it!

[Jenise]

About the same here, Bob. $17 from my source, plus $20 off because the total purchase was over $200 and free shipping from northern California, so not complaining. Scarcity is just because I live in a small town with limited options.

I love the reds, particularly the Prado Enea, but it became stupidly expensive - now sells up here for $106 plus tax!!

I like white Rioja a lot but we get exactly one, the Bhilar Finca Revilla - at $120 a bottle.

[Jenise]

Bill, this one's delish. White Rioja is thin on the ground down here, too. I just bought a Remelluri for $70, and it's the first white Remelluri I've seen since spending about that same price for the one I brought to one of the terrine events, on Palmerston, the one where I made the layered vegetarian terrine (asparagus-pea, manchego/cauliflower) that I served with the peach gazpacho. It's been how long, like 10 or 12 years? I can't imagine a better white Rioja than that, and this isn't better, but the Muga at $17 is better than any just ab out any other white wine I've had of late from anywhere for under $25.

I stand ready to be convinced - a bottle (or two) might win me over......(hint, hint).

[Jenise]

So Eric Asimov of the NYT just published an article of 20 great wines under $20. Guess what made his list? Yup, this one.

Saw that. I think the white is the best of their entry level wines, I have friends that like the rose, but usually find heavy, while white is a dependable value (and often on BTG menu at tavern level restaurants). Red is so-so, but I really have liked Reserva and especially Prado Enea (before price increases). Even Muga Torre- undrinkable young- seems to absorb its oak with enough time

BTW, on the Muga site I only see one Muga white made up of Viura, Garnacha blanca and Malvasía de Rioja
https://www.bodegasmuga.com/en/muga-white/

Is that what you have?

[Jenise]

Saw that. I think the white is the best of their entry level wines, I have friends that like the rose, but usually find heavy, while white is a dependable value (and often on BTG menu at tavern level restaurants). Red is so-so, but I really have liked Reserva and especially Prado Enea (before price increases). Even Muga Torre- undrinkable young- seems to absorb its oak with enough time

No experience with aged Torres but otherwise in complete agreement. I would add that though I've always liked the white, this vintage has more depth and complexity than usual (or at least, I think so).

[Jenise]

BTW, on the Muga site I only see one Muga white made up of Viura, Garnacha blanca and Malvasía de Rioja
https://www.bodegasmuga.com/en/muga-white/

Is that what you have?

Yes. $17 ea.