From: Rioja, Spain
Blend: 70% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha
Critical Acclaim: Wine Advocate: 92 Points
"The 2019 El Andén de la Estación is a new red that takes advantage of the Barrio de la Estación, the train station neighborhood of Haro. It's a Crianza with less extraction, looking for the elegance and finesse of the classical Rioja wines. It's a blend of Tempranillo from their younger vines and Garnacha (that they buy) that matured in French and European barrels for 14 months. It's a quaffable red with lots of Garnacha character (it might represent up to 30% of the blend, by far the highest in Garnacha from the portfolio). It's floral, juicy and expressive, very open and approachable. This is delicious and still quite complex. 186,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2021."
Taste: Taste: This absolutely charming red is a medium-bodied wine with a bright ruby color and an expressive, Garnacha-forward aroma. On the nose, it displays aromas of ripe red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, alongside spice notes of black pepper and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is elegant and well-structured, with a smooth texture and a balanced acidity. The flavors of red fruit and spices continue on the palate, with additional hints of tobacco and leather that add complexity to the wine. The tannins are firm yet silky, accompanied by a refreshing acidity that provides balance and length to the finish. This is a delicious and approachable wine that showcases the Muga family's winemaking expertise and the unique terroir of Rioja.
Pairing: This is the quintessential backyard bbq wine: versatile and food-friendly, great for warm or cool weather, tends to please most groups regardless of wine preferences, and of course, pairs well with a wide range of dishes. We’ve listed some pairing suggestions below!
Grilled or roasted meats, such as beef, lamb, pork, or game, seasoned with herbs and spices.
Spanish dishes, such as chorizo, paella, or roasted vegetables with Romesco sauce.
Rioja-style dishes, such as grilled lamb chops with red pepper sauce, or
Traditional Spanish stews, such as cocido or fabada.
Tapas or pinchos, such as patatas bravas, croquetas, or jamón ibérico.
Moroccan/Mediterranean cuisine, almost any sausage, merguez sausages are our favorite with Rioja
Roast beef with potatoes and carrots
Grilled pork tenderloin with mustard sauce
Grilled or roasted vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, or bell peppers, with a balsamic glaze or tomato sauce.
Grilled portobello mushrooms with balsamic glaze
Lentil soup with smoked paprika
Lentil or chickpea stews, seasoned with paprika or cumin.
Grilled eggplant with tomato sauce and basil
Mushroom risotto, topped with grated Parmesan cheese or truffle oil.
Ham Croquetas. Recipe from Jonathan Andrade, adapted by Christina Morales
About. Jorge Muga has been working since the 2016 vintage (the official launch was in 2020) to craft a drinkable, gastronomic Crianza from the Muga family's estate vineyards across Rioja Alta. Andén de la Estación, which refers to the landing of the Barrio de la Estación train station in Haro, is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha aged for 14 months in own-coopered barrels.
As the Muga family have aggressively increased their land holdings in Rioja over the last three decades, they have accumulated hundreds of hectares of land that produce fruit that is oftentimes sold off in bulk to other producers when the quality doesn't meet the requirements for their wines. However, as these vineyards have matured, they have found quality has increased substantially and produced a fresh, easy drinking, yet high quality Crianza with the Muga signature.
The winery, tasting room, barrel room and vineyards at Bodegas Muga are well worth a visit if you’re ever visiting the wine country in Spain. It’s pretty much the gold standard for state-of-the-art Spanish winemaking facilities. They do the virtually unheard of in making their own hand crafted custom barrels (over 14,000 in-house), and they give you endless Jamón ibérico and charcuterie to pair with their lights out Reds.
Armed with the best winegrowers, winemakers and equipment possible, they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Rioja and make racier and racier blends that others simply cannot replicate. That’s why they’re the top dogs everyone’s chasing. They’re essentially one of the most traditional estates that’s also incredibly forward-thinking.
They manage 420 hectares of vineyards in some of the most desirable areas in the region – using no herbicides nor insecticides in their winemaking. They really are an institution. Robert Parker, Jr. called their Riojas, “among the finest wines you can find from this renowned appellation.”
Their newest addition to the fleet is a gorgeous Crianza that pays homage to the train station that was responsible for shipping wine from Rioja to Bordeaux during the Phylloxera epidemic. This vintage, the 2019, is just their second time making it but judging by the critical response and its lightning quick opening year sell out, it’s definitely here to stay.