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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..."
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