Muga Unfiltered Reserva 2012

Dark ruby with a brooding depth. Two years in Muga's own French oak casks has shaped a nose of dark cherry, red currant and smoked meat, with black pepper and mineral threading beneath. Sappy and vivid on the mouth, juicy red berry and bitter cherry lifted by a violet pastille note, the richness kept honest by a taut, driving acidity. There's a genuine push-pull here between weight and freshness that never quite resolves, which is exactly the point. The finish is long and smoky, trailing candied florals and a faint suggestion of game. Old World structure dressed in just enough New World fruit to keep things intriguing.