With exceptional elegance, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva 2012 is a true Rioja classic that is essential for your cellar. Praised by both national and international critics, Marqués de Murrieta produces this century-old label exclusively in the best vintages, using selected grapes from the most exceptional vineyards on the estate. Declared the best Spanish wine of 2023 by the critic James Suckling.
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
85% Tempranillo, 19% Mazuelo
Type of barrel
American oak barrels (for the tempranillo) and French (for the mazuelo)
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
34 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Distinguished by its marked elegance and harmony, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 stands at the pinnacle of the Gran Reserva segment, a category on the rise thanks to renewed interest from the international market. The Gran Reservas have long represented the greatness of D.O.Ca. Rioja, and Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial is an excellent example of this; a century-old label at the very top of the global stage.
Founded in 1852, Marqués de Murrieta is one of the most important wineries in the history of Spain. Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell, has been leading the winery since 1996, with winemaker María Vargas bringing a ‘measured modernity’ to its wines without losing the essence of the brand. The result: wines that are a timeless classic and at the forefront of the international scene.
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 was crafted with grapes from the La Plana vineyard, located in the highest area (at 485 meters altitude) of the Finca Ygay estate, surrounding the winery. The wine, a blend of tempranillo and mazuelo, was aged for 28 months in American and French oak barrels. A 'top' Rioja.
Creators' opinion
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial exhibe una nariz plena y compleja, con aromas de picota y ciruela madura que cubren notas de hojas de té, cedro y hierbas mediterráneas sobre un fondo de flores secas. Definido y profundo en boca, con taninos pulidos y lleno de matices; armonioso y de larga vida.
The winery
Winery
Oenologist
Winemaker
Marqués de Murrieta is one of the most important wineries in the history of Spain and a living legend of national wine. A true château that prides itself on being the oldest winery in Rioja. Its history began in 1852 in Ygay, near Logroño, when Luciano de Murrieta y García-Lemoine decided to transform Rioja wine into a noble wine aged in barrels, applying the techniques he had learned in Bordeaux. He achieved this goal within a few years, thus ushering in a new era in the winemaking of our country.
Vicente Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell, acquired the winery in 1983 and became the main driving force behind Marqués de Murrieta crossing borders and consolidating the presence of its wines in the international market. The successful -and passionate- management of his son Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, combined with the outstanding work of winemaker María Vargas, has ensured that the winery remains at the international forefront. Among its achievements are the coveted 100 Parker points for the white Castillo Ygay 1986 and the recognition of the red Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2010 as the best wine in the world by the publication 'Wine Spectator'. Additionally, in 2022, Marqués de Murrieta became the first Spanish winery to enter the top 10 of the prestigious guide 'The Wine Advocate', among many other accomplishments.
Their wines are crafted from the 300 hectares of vineyards located on the Finca Ygay estate and are characterized by their elegance and longevity. Wines that are present in 104 countries around the world.