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MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA – Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2011

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Wine Description

Aroma With its satin structure and impeccable balance, Castillo Ygay is considered by many to be the best Rioja ever. Its nuanced bouquet of ripe cherries, blueberries and cassis fascinates with its complexity and subtle notes of undergrowth, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, cloves and mocha.
Color The supple red presents itself in a strong purple in the glass.
Palate Firm, racy and yet harmonious on the palate. With depth and complexity as well as wonderfully integrated tannins and a long elegant finish, it proves its absolute top class.
Match with ...steamed grouper, grilled baby squid, "Wagyu" tail in red wine, smoked eel millefeuille and foie or sheep's milk cheese with truffle.
Alcohol 14 vol%


Terroir

Region D.O.Ca. La Rioja
Vintage 2011
Grape Varieties 84% Tempranillo, 16% Mazuelo
Soil Light, loose clay and limestone soils
Height Approx. 485 m above sea level.
Climate Continental climate with Atlantic influence, providing cold and long winters and warm summers. The harsh Atlantic winds are shielded by the Cantabrian Mountains.
Harvest Hand picking

 

Vinification

Fermentation Separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
Maceration 11 days at 28ºC
Maturation 28 months in 225 litre American (Tempranillo) and French (Mazuelo) oak barrels. After blending, the wine spends 13 months in concrete tanks.

 

Awards:

Robert Parker 97/100
Guia Penin 96/100
Suckling 98/100
Tim Atkin 97/100

 

Criticism

Luis Gutierréz the critic Robert Parkers wrote in 2022:

"The 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was made with a blend of 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from a plot called La Plana, planted in 1950 at an altitude of 485 metres, the highest on the Ygay estate. The grapes were harvested between the 17th and 22nd of September, the Mazuelo later, on the 28th of September. The grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for 11 days, with constant pumping over and pressing. The Tempranillo matured for 28 months in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo for 28 months in French barriques. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.6 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per litre). It is very difficult to follow a vintage like 2010, and 2011 was not an easy year. The wine is possibly more powerful and concentrated, but retains its freshness, has a longer ageing period, but is very young and lively, with an elegant texture and mouthfeel, great balance and elegance. The wine feels alive and it seems impossible that it has been in the bottle for more than six years. It has the classic profile with the effect of American oak barrels, cigar box, cedar, sweet spices - aromatic, heady, complex. It should be matured very slowly and for a very long time. 131,668 bottles were produced. It was bottled in February 2016. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 vintages are not produced. They have a 2012 and will switch from that to 2016. The 2012 will be released in late 2023 or early 2024 and the 2016 in 2027 or 2028. Let's keep our fingers crossed..."

MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA – Castillo...

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