Prado Enea 1973 Gran Reserva

Wine: Prado Enea 1973 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Muga (Haro, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano
ABV: N/A

Winemaking:
40% of the grapes are sourced from estate vineyards, with the remainder from small growers in Rioja Alta and trusted producers. Each varietal is vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation takes 

place in 18,000-liter oak vats, followed by racking into clean vats using a traditional filter of dried grape stalks. The wine rests for 12 months in vats and horizontal tanks for malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It matured for 48 months in 395 used American oak barrels (225L) with an average age of 12 years, many crafted in the winery's own cooperage. Production of 118,056 bottles. Minimum of 24 months of bottle aging before release.

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Copper-ruby with medium-low depth; very low extraction, exceptionally clear and limpid. It visually aligns more with a Riojan rosé of the same era. Clean and brilliant with orange and reddish reflections. Broad rim covering nearly the entire meniscus.

Nose: Good intensity, well-defined, and open; extremely mature without becoming jammy. It offers an staggering amount of quince paste, honey, and jelly, nuanced by exotic spices, Sichuan pepper, and a wild backdrop of star anise, caraway, fennel, dried verbena, and lemongrass. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the Prado Enea 1970, showing the same absence of prominent oak—save for a faint creaminess—while distinguishing itself through more pronounced reductive notes of fine leather, withered petals, and earth. Full of personality.

Palate: Light-bodied and lean. It seems reduced to its bare essentials, stripped of all artifice, yet possessing a tightly packed, restrained maturity. It is anchored by reduced red fruit and an acidity that brings the whole ensemble to life. It flows discreetly and fragrantly, with invisible tannins and a persistent bitter note on the long finish.

Commentary:
Although it did not reach total unanimity in the group, this is one of those rare Riojas that should serve as a model for many others. It proves once again that the 1973 vintage continues to deliver immense joy. A delicate, ethereal wine that prioritizes fragrance and precision over power.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 90