This is an ultra-modern and extracted international-style Riojas from the famous Torres Muga. Powerful, intense and very lively, anxious to please from the start. The almost perfect mingling of red-berry fruit(high altitude) and toasted oak aromas on the nose, with the fruit coming to the fore in the mouth and rounding off a supple, balanced overall effect. THe finish is textured and balanced, with racy acidity and flavours of liquorice, blackberry and vanilla, this wine contrasts significantly with the more traditional Riojas, such as their Reserva and Prado Enea. With powerful aromas of red and black cherries and vanilla, cedar and mushroom notes, this wine also shows a bit of the overripe notes of the Torre Muga. These overripe accents are skillfully balanced on the palate by red, tangy fruits in a reasonably lengthy finish. Drink now or over the next five or so years.
The philosophy behind Torre Muga is to make small batches of modern wine using a very traditional blend of Rioja varietals and classic techniques. Only the best grapes from the winery are used, and they undergo an intense selection process on the triage table after harvest. Following fermentation in oak vats, the wine aged for six months in wooden vats, 18 months in new French Allier oak barrels, and 12 months in bottles. Finally, it is fined with egg whites and bottled unfiltered.
We all love this wine. The scores are reasonably good, such as:
94 points James Suckling
This was the only red Muga made in 2018, and the wines from the best vineyards went into the blend. In other words, top vineyards were declassified. Medium-bodied with excellent tannins that are caressing and refined. Plenty of subtle berries, chocolate and walnuts. Tempranillo with garnacha, mazuelo and graciano. (8/2021). Edited.
91 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Muga Reserva is a similar blend and has pretty, slightly fresher notes of darker, almost blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and cedary oak. More medium-bodied on the palate, it shows the fresher, elegant vintage style, has beautiful tannins, no hard edges, and great length on the finish. (6/2022). Edited.
Of superb construction, it has the density of a great year, wonderfully fruity aromas in the finale, excellent, but needs ageing. From 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine represents 50% of the crop. Drink this young, as it will be best in its first 7-8 years—right time. The bottle gives 13.5% ABV and tastes plummy; on the palate, it chocolaty, toasty, earthy and is round with a spicy finish. Bodied.
WE89. This wine is all fruity, juicy Merlot. It's soft, rounded and ripe with flavours of berries and dark plums to give richness. Drink soon, from 2018.
The score is relatively low, but that is good news for the drinkers as that reflects in the wine's high cost-performance.
We could not re-taste Rol Valentine 2013 because of the small, rationed quantities before we wrote. From memory years back, it is of deep dark ruby garnet, with a deep core and bright, violet reflections, shows on the nose ripe dark berry and red cherry fruit, delicate plums and figs, and a hint of nougat. Juicy red forest berry confit, fresh, fine tannins, lively and easy to drink, cherries on the finish, shows a good balance, careful handling of wood, a light-footed food companion. Not much structure, not much tannins, But it was just pleasing. Style quite elegant La Fleur and le Gay, maybe the influence from Stephane Derenocourt and the Robin sisters.
Chateau Rol Valentin does not have a long history it made its debut with the difficult 1994 vintage. Before that, the property was known as Clos Valentin. The founder of Rol Valentin was Eric Prissette, the former European soccer star. In 2009, Chateau Rol Valentin took on a new owner when it was sold to the daughter of Leclerc’s chief wine buyer, Jean-Luc Roche, and her husband, Nicolas Robin, the nephew of the famous Robin sisters of the Right Bank. The Robin sisters previously owned Chateau Lafleur and Chateau Le Gay in Pomerol. The original and smaller vineyard was increased to its current size when the new owners took over.
