Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea Muga 2001 (750ML)

97 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Cedary, super fresh and showing autumnal leaves and forest-floor complexity. Impeccably composed, brambly palate with dried red plums, red berries and cherries. Freshness through the finish and lots of energy carrying mellow flavors. Drink or hold." 06/18

93 Points, Jay Miller, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The current release is the 2001 Prado Enea Gran Reserva from a vintage universally acknowledged as great in Rioja. Medium purple in color, it displays an alluring perfume of cigar box, rose petal, Asian spices, incense, truffle, and black cherry. A wine of finesse, it has a velvety texture, succulent fruit, and a lengthy, pure finish. It is approachable now but will continue to provide pleasure for another 20 years." 07/10

93 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous: "Deep red. A complex, heady bouquet of dried red berries, sandalwood, rose oil, black tea and licorice pastille. Smooth, focused and gently sweet cherry and raspberry flavors coat the palate, with gentle but integrated tannins providing shape. This silky, seamless wine finishes with a strong echo of candied flowers, spices and minerals." 09/09

95 Points, Simon Field, Decanter: "Best Rioja vintage in the last 30 years? 2001 usually pips it over 2004 for me and this wine will do nothing to change my mind. Mature mellow colour, magenta and hints of amber at the rim, still near opaque at the core. Defiant, sweet savoury aromatics of soy and pressed bilberries; somewhere a covert Havana cigar has been left to smoulder defiantly. The structure impresses equally even if the famously sinewy Prado Enea texture is now a little gentler (if still robust and firm of purpose) two decades later. A dreamy smoky character cedes to a more savoury, life-affirming denouement. (Drink between 2024-2031)" 04/24