Bodegas Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva 2016

The 2016 vintage in Rioja is widely celebrated as one of the finest in recent memory, drawing comparisons to other esteemed years like 2010 and 2004. Despite an unconventional growing season marked by a rainy spring, a hot and dry summer, and an extended harvest period, the vintage produced exceptional results. The balance and freshness of the wines are remarkable, with full ripeness achieved alongside modest alcohol levels. The tannins are silky, and the aromas are vibrant, creating wines that are already delightful to drink but have the potential to age beautifully for decades. The meticulous green harvesting and timely September rains contributed to a bumper crop of perfectly balanced grapes, resulting in wines with a harmonious blend of phenolic ripeness and lively acidity. Rioja’s top classifications, such as Reserva and Gran Reserva, benefit from extensive aging requirements, allowing the best wines from this vintage to mature luxuriously in oak and develop complex, savory profiles. The 2016 vintage is not just a highlight of the past two decades but is poised to be remembered as one of the greats in Rioja’s storied winemaking history.

Vinification: Prado Enea grapes are always the last to be harvested. It is a matter of careful selection of vineyard plots at altitude with grapes of fine quality, located in the northwest corner of the Rioja Alta, in the villages of Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche. The grapes ferment in oak vats. Maceration is for 14 to 16 days. Following this the wine spends a minimum of 36 months ageing in French- and American-oak casks, to give it greater complexity. At the end of this period of ageing, the wine is lightly fined using fresh egg whites before bottling and then remains in our cellar for at least a further 36 months in order to complete the ageing process by providing elegance to the wine.

Food Pairing: This wine pairs well with casseroles, meat dishes, braised short ribs, grilled lamb, beef wellington, hard cheeses, such as manchego; and it can even be enjoyed on its own, without any accompaniment.


97 James Suckling
Complex aromas of dark fruit with violets, walnuts and chocolate. Classy. It's full-bodied with plush yet fine velvety tannins, and a precise and pointed finish. Juicy and savory. Tight finish. It's very long. This is beautiful now but will be even better in three or four years. Linear and vertical at the same time. Try after 2026.

97+ Robert Parker
The expressive, complex and nuanced 2016 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a textbook traditional Rioja in the making. 2016 was a very elegant year, with aging potential, volume and very good acidity and freshness. It's full-bodied but fine-boned, has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.25 grams per liter acidity. It has terrific balance, with all the components in the right proportion to age superbly in bottle. They have also been working on the selection of wood used. This wine matured in French and American oak barrels for three years, and the oak is super integrated. Rating: 97+

97 Wine Enthusiast - Cellar Selection
Deep ruby in color, this wine has a nose of cocoa powder, coffee bean, lavender and cherry. It is smooth at first sip, with tannins that slowly build in volume and then drift away to reveal black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, mint and orange-zest flavors. The brilliant finish is marked with a floral note.

94 Wine Spectator
A powerful red that nonetheless shows poise and fine integration, wrapping a core of dense tannins around focused flavors of baked black plum, green olive, fig cake and ground coffee, with a savory underpinning of loamy earth, leather and leafy herb notes. Plush in texture and appealing, with a long, well-spiced finish.

La Rioja, located in North Central Spain, is a distinguished wine region renowned for its rich winemaking tradition and exceptional quality. Spanning approximately 54,000 hectares and divided into three primary subregions—Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental—this region produces a remarkable variety of wines, most notably red blends featuring Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. The climate in Rioja is influenced by the Cantabrian Mountains to the north and west, which shield the vineyards from the colder, wetter Atlantic weather. This results in a warmer, drier climate conducive to grape growing. The region's diverse soil types, including calcareous clay, alluvial silt, and ferruginous clay, contribute to the complexity and character of its wines. Rioja's historical significance, including its connection to the famous Saint James pilgrimage route and its UNESCO World Heritage sites, further adds to its allure.

Rioja Alta, the westernmost subregion of Rioja, is celebrated for its elevated vineyards and distinctive wine styles. Positioned south of the Ebro River and encompassing the historic town of Haro, Rioja Alta's vineyards are situated at altitudes ranging between 550 and 800 meters. This high elevation fosters a slow ripening of grapes, resulting in wines with bright acidity, balanced alcohol levels, and excellent aging potential. The soil in Rioja Alta is a mix of clay, iron, and alluvial components, giving its wines a unique character that often emphasizes elegance and oak integration. The subregion's climate is a blend of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, contributing to a wide range of wine styles from robust reds to refined whites. Rioja Alta is home to some of Rioja’s most prestigious bodegas, and its wines are increasingly celebrated for their terroir-driven expressions and longevity.