Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay - Rioja Gran Reserva Especial 2012

The flagship wine, a benchmark in the DO Rioja with an unquestionable recognition worldwide. It represents the consistency of a project started in 1852 and masterfully maintained. Part of its greatness resides on the fact that it is only made in selected vintages. Castillo Ygay has developed a great complexity over the years without losing its exceptional freshness and demonstrating its superb quality and marked elegance.

Castillo Ygay is always made from the best grapes sourced from La Plana, a 40-hectare (98-acre) vineyard, planted in 1950 and located at 485 meters above sea level, in the highest area of Ygay State, our 300-hectare estate in Rioja Alta.

The tempranillo is aged for 34 months in 225-litre American oak barrels and the mazuelo is aged for 34 months in 225-litre French oak barrels. After blending, the wine remains 20 months in a concrete tank until bottling.

Grape varieties: 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo. Bottling date: may, 2019.

"So much dried flower mushroom iron rust sweet berry and grilled orange. Full-bodied with very elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth and give a real sense of place and integrity. Balanced and harmonious. The finesse and finish is endless. Production was 30% less than in 2011. Already so drinkable. A wonderful future. This is the new 1934 or 1964 two legends. Drink or hold" - 100 points, James Suckling

"The 2012 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from the plot La Plana in the Ygay estate which was planted in 1950 at 485 meters above sea level the highest in the Ygay property. The Tempranillo was picked between September 17th and 19th and the Mazuelo was harvested on September 25th. The bunches were destemmed and lightly crushed and put to ferment in stainless steel for 10 days with constant pump-overs and délestages. The Tempranillo matured for 34 months in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo also matured for 34 months but in French barriques. It was then blended and put in concrete for a further 20 months. It has 14% alcohol a pH of 3.65 and 5.8 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). It seems to follow the style of the 2011 perhaps somewhere between the 2010 and 2011?very classical with notes of earth cedar spice and meat. The palate is polished sleek and elegant with a touch of earthy rusticity. 103216 bottles 3121 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2019. No 2013 2014 or 2015 will be produced so from here they will jump to 2016 to be released in 2026 or 2027. I look forward to it and I'm intrigued about what I'm going to find when I taste it. In September 2023 the Cebrián-Sagarriga family celebrated its 40th anniversary as owners of Marqués de Murrieta which they bought in 1983. In 1996 Vicente Dalmau Cebrián took the reins of the winery driving a deep transformation and he continues today relentlessly trying to improve every year. It's pretty amazing how the wines feel better each year like a winery on its way up." - 97 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Marques de Murrieta

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Varietal: Tempranillo, Mazuelo

Appellation: Rioja Gran Reserva

Vintage: 2012

Size: 750ml