Torre Muga Tinto Reserva Rioja, Spain, 2016  

Tempranillo 75%, Mazuelo 15% and Graciano 10% aged ages for 18 months in new French-oak barrels. 

The dense legs that this wine reveals are a sign of its enormous elegance. The purple-coloured hues around the rim reflect its youth. On the nose you find black fruit aromas at the peak of ripeness, spicy black pepper aromas and wood-land herbs. Balsamic herb nuances appear with rosemary and some smoky notes from the ageing in top class oak casks, creating a harmony and balance which cannot be matched. In the mouth we can find the juicy, elegant tannins with a nice sharp acidity to balance the palate. Hints of liquorice and the pepper return. A very persistent, elegant, enjoyable and approachable wine. 

"I tasted a super young 2016 Torre Muga that had only been in bottle for some four months. But even so, the year seems to be approachable and open. Even if the wine has concentration and power, it has great balance and freshness. And it's drinkable now, even if it's going to get polished with some more time in bottle, where it should have a long life. This was the most modern of the wines in the portfolio, but I think the modern and traditional styles have been converging over the years, and nowadays there is not a huge difference between them. And for its age, it feels quite round, and it doesn't have edges or any harsh tannins; the oak is present but it's neatly integrated in the wine. It has to be one of the finest vintages for Torre Muga. 36,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in early 2019." Luis Gutierrez 96/100 robertparker.com 

97/100 Tim Atkin 

Great with with red meat left to hang for a good time, game or failing that, enjoy it on its own.