Muga, Prado Enea Gran Reserva, Rioja 2016

In a world of rising prices, we find comfort in finding parcels of wine which are, somehow, a bargain in the world of fine wine. Muga Prado Enea is one such wine – those that know it love it from first sip, those that don’t almost certainly will. 2016 is, according to the wine advocate, the greatest Prado Enea in existence; better than all legendary Rioja vintages that came before it.

Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva is one of the iconic wines of Rioja, always among the very best Gran Reserva releases in any given year. The fruit is sourced from Muga’s top vineyards in the cooler zones of northwest Rioja Alta, ranging between 550 and 600m in elevation – south-facing slopes with calcareous clay soils. As such, Prado Enea is characterised by excellent acidity, and a firm yet fine tannin structure. Majority Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano in the blend, the fruit for Prado Enea is the last of the Muga’s to be harvested every year. Fermentation is in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a 14–16-day maceration is followed by a minimum of 36 months’ ageing in French and American oak casks (only circa 10% new), then 3-4 years in bottle prior to release.

Prado Enea is an absolute classic; it exudes finesse and elegance and has huge ageing potential; and yet it’s still – somehow – a bargain in the fine wine world. Even in the context of Rioja, which offers some of the best-value fine wines on the planet, Prado Enea is an anomaly (just take a look at the likes of similarly ageworthy classics like Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial and La Rioja Alta 890). We love this wine, and we love the family who make it, and we highly recommend you secure a couple of cases today.