1973 Muga - Rioja Gran Reserva - 3 Bottles (0.75L)

Acquired from Muga Distribution, directly from the winery’s old “cemetery” cellar, in 2002 and stored in a private cellar ever since.

Bottle in outstanding condition, excellent fill level, a well-preserved replacement cork, beautiful pale reddish colour, intact wax with no cracks or damage and no signs of seepage. The wine is fully mature and drinking beautifully now, although a well-stored bottle should continue to evolve gracefully over the next 25–30 years.

This is one of the most exclusive wines ever produced by Bodegas Muga. It was vinified and matured for 12 to 18 months in large wooden vats, without temperature control, before being transferred to old oak casks. Its total ageing period extended to eight and a half years—two years longer than the regular Muga Gran Reserva. Over the course of this long, traditional ageing process, it was racked by hand using the classic Riojan cask-to-cask method once every six months.

In 1983, the wine was bottled by hand, directly from the cask, bottle by bottle and without filtration. This small special cuvée was never commercially released, and the bottles remained undisturbed in Muga’s historic underground cellars in Haro. In 1998, they were recorked, sealed with wax and secured with wire at the winery. Only a few hundred bottles were eventually sold or offered to loyal customers in 2002, to mark the winery’s 70th anniversary. They were entirely allocated and sold.

98/100 Vinos Clásicos: "Firm and expressive in every phase: caressing to the touch, vibrant on the palate, and exceptionally fine as it flows. Its duration and persistence are hard to believe. While a classic Rioja, it offers an extra dimension compared to the Prado Enea of the same period, combining power with ethereal lightness. Fresh, enveloping, and as weightless as it is concentrated. Without a doubt, the finest Muga wine tasted to date. This 1973 Gran Reserva confirms the legendary status of its vintage, achieving a rare harmony between structural intensity and weightless elegance. A landmark of traditional Rioja winemaking at its absolute peak".

*** All international parcels are shipped to the highest professional standards via premium UPS International Express, the courier’s fastest signature-required service. Each shipment is prepared in a specialist wine box officially certified by UPS / DHL, with every bottle packed individually and protected in three layers of bubble wrap. Given the nature of fine wine and the value of the consignments, all lots are shipped with full insurance coverage. ***