MARQUES DE MURIETTA Castillo Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva Especial 2012 Bottle

Description

If you are seeking a truly legendary wine that represents the pinnacle of Spanish winemaking, the Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva 2012 is a monumental choice. As the flagship wine of this historic estate, which has maintained its incredible standards since 1852, it is only produced in the most exceptional vintages. The grapes are carefully sourced from La Plana, a stunning high altitude vineyard planted back in 1950, ensuring unparalleled quality and depth.

This remarkable blend of Tempranillo and Mazuelo pours a deep, inviting colour and immediately captivates with a complex and aromatic nose. You will discover layers of dried flowers, sweet berries and subtle earthy notes of truffle and forest floor, perfectly balanced by a delicate touch of oak. On the palate, it is incredibly harmonious and refined. Muscular yet juicy flavours of ripe plum, dark cherry and blackberry are woven together with elegant spices like nutmeg and white pepper. The tannins are beautifully smooth and melt in the mouth, leading to an endless, velvety finish highlighted by a hint of smoky dark chocolate.

Awarded a flawless 100 out of 100 points by James Suckling, this Gran Reserva is already drinking brilliantly but also promises a wonderful future for those who wish to cellar it. It is a sophisticated masterpiece that brings a sense of occasion to any meal throughout the year. Pair this outstanding Rioja with roasted game, rich meat stews or mature cheeses for an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates pure elegance and tradition.

JAMES SUCKLING 100 points/100
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.

DECANTER 98 points/100
Tasted by: Ines Salpico (at Rioja, 07 Mar 2025)
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2032
Lovely freshness and purity of fruit, with chiselled plum, cherry and blackberry flavours. The tannins are muscular yet juicy with an elegant spicy lining (white pepper, cardamon, nutmeg). Long velvety finish, with a tail of smoky dark chocolate and fried sage. A vibrant 2012 still with plenty of time ahead in bottle. Sourced from the highest vineyard on the Ygay estate, La Plana, in the south of Rioja Alta, 40ha at 485m, planted in 1950. 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo were destemmed, fermented separately in stainless steel tanks then aged separately, each for 34 months in 225L French oak barrels, the Tempranillo in American and the Mazuelo in French. After blending, the wine rested for 20 months in a concrete tank until bottling in May 2019.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points/100
Drink Date: 2024 - 2045
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.

VINOUS 97 points/100
Drinking window: 2030 - 2045
Currently in a shutting-down phase, the 2012 Castillo Ygay (81% Tempranillo, 19% Mazuelo, Rioja Alta) feels as if it is pulling its shoulders in before a long sleep. A touch of reduction is present. The fruit is moving toward tertiary territory, with menthol hints and dried plum nuance over a background of oak and subtle herbal tones. There is complexity in motion, including a beeswax note. Dry and gently enveloping, it carries lively grip and palpable energy, projecting a long life ahead. Ideally, it should be revisited no sooner than four years from now.