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Bodega Marques de Murrieta : Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012

Name: Bodega Marques de Murrieta : Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012
Brand: Bodega Marqués de Murrieta
SKU: J2906/12
Price: 279 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.82 (1188 reviews)

La Rioja

Rioja

- Red - See details

Parker | 97

Wine Spectator | 95

J. Robinson | 16.5

$279.00

(

$279.00 / Unit

)

Packaging : 1 x Bottle (75cl)

1 x 75CL

$279.00

In stock. Available for pick-up at store

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Marks and reviews

/100

Robert Parker

Luis Gutiérrez

I tasted again the 2012 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, as the wine was not produced in 2013, 2014 or 2015 and the 2016 will not be released until 2027. The next vintages will be 2017, 2019 and 2021. The 2012 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, then it was 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's spicy, with abundant notes of forest floor, truffles and dry leaves, cigar ash and cedarwood, with a very tasty palate, savory, almost salty. It's evolving at a very slow pace. It should last forever... 103,216 bottles, 3,121 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

/100

Wine Spectator

Alison Napjus

This sophisticated red offers rich flavors of plum compote and dried cherry and raspberry fruit, with detailed notes of espresso, anise, mountain herbs and fresh earth. Shows lovely interplay between generosity and a sense of finesse, integrating fine, chalky tannins and orange peel acidity. Long and fragrant on the finish. Tempranillo and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2037. 9,394 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

100

/100

James Suckling

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

Vinous

Joaquín Hidalgo

The 2012 Gran Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay is 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo from Rioja Alta. Delicate and complex, it delivers aromas of soft mint, fine cherry, red fruit, undergrowth and evolved oaky flavors such as coconut and pomegranate. The palate is silky, juicy and fresh, with polished tannins and a long, nuanced finish. The Mazuelo brings tension and elegance, refining the profile. Oak still frames this, but the tertiary detail and structure are those of a classic Rioja. The 2012 is captivating in a traditional style.

/100

Jeb Dunnuck

Virginie Boone

With 19% Mazuelo, the 2012 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Tempranillo is medium-bodied, with subtle power and tannin, leathery on the palate with a taste of fig and baked plum. A wine first made in 1877, the grapes are sourced from vines planted at La Plana in 1950. Drink now through 2032.

Description

Tasting characteristics and tips for Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 Bodega Marqués de Murrieta

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a bright, cherry-red hue.

Nose

Complex and intense, the nose opens with aromas of black cherries and ripe plums, interwoven with notes of tea leaves and cedar. The bouquet also reveals hints of Mediterranean herbs and dried flowers, accompanied by nuances of dates, prunes and spices.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unfolds with depth and balance. Polished, velvety tannins bring a satin-like texture, while the structure reveals remarkable freshness. Layered and nuanced, this harmonious wine offers a concentrated core of slightly spicy, full-bodied flavors, reflecting its maturity and complexity. The finish lingers elegantly, promising outstanding aging potential.

Food and wine pairings

This Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, game in sauce, as well as characterful aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 will benefit from being decanted one to two hours before serving and served at 16-18°C to fully reveal its aromatic range. This wine has the potential to age for several decades.

An exceptional wine from Rioja Alta, Marqués de Murrieta’s flagship cuvée

The estate

Founded in 1852 by Luciano de Murrieta, with the ambition of producing great wines with significant aging potential by applying techniques learned in Bordeaux, Bodega Marqués de Murrieta embodies the modern winemaking history of La Rioja. A true pioneer, it produced and exported the first Rioja wines outside of Spain. The Finca Ygay estate spans 300 hectares in Rioja Alta, planted primarily to Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Grenache. Since 1983, the Cebrián-Sagarriga family has run the property, now led by Vicente D. Cebrián-Sagarriga and his sister Cristina. The combination of centuries-old tradition and ultra-modern facilities inaugurated in 2021 sets this emblematic bodega apart.

The vineyard

Castillo Ygay comes exclusively from La Plana, an exceptional 40-hectare plot planted in 1950, located at 485 meters above sea level in the highest area of the Finca Ygay estate in Rioja Alta. This privileged terroir benefits from optimal conditions for growing Tempranillo and Mazuelo, allowing this iconic cuvée to be produced only in outstanding vintages.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 are harvested by hand into small crates, with Tempranillo picked between September 17 and 19 and Mazuelo on September 25. Fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks for 10 to 12 days with regular pump-overs and rack-and-return. Tempranillo is then aged for 34 months in 225-liter American oak barrels, while Mazuelo spends 34 months in French oak barrels of the same size. After blending, the wine continues aging for 20 months in concrete tanks before bottling in May 2019.

Grape varieties

81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo.

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