2011 | Marqués de Murrieta | Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

An infinite and complex range of aromas define this Castillo Ygay 2011 that evokes aromas of ripe cherry, blueberries and cassis with refined touches of scrubland, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, cloves and mocha. Balance defines this wine vintage after vintage; lively on the palate as well as enveloping and harmonious. With silky tannins and a long, elegant finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from a plot called La Plana that was planted in 1950 at 485 meters in altitude, the highest in the Ygay property. The grapes were picked between September 17 and 22, and the Mazuelo was later, on September 28. The bunches were destemmed and lightly crushed and put to ferment in stainless steel for 11 days with constant pump-overs and punch-downs. The Tempranillo matured for 28 months in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo for 28 months in French barriques. It's 14% alcohol and has a pH of 3.65 with 5.6 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). It's very tough to follow a vintage like 2010, and 2011 was not an easy year; the wine is possibly more powerful and concentrated but keeping the freshness, with a longer élevage but very young and lively, with an elegant texture and mouthfeel, great balance and elegance. The wine feels lively, and it seems impossible that it has been in bottle for over six years. It has the classical profile with the effect of the American oak barrels, cigar box, cedar wood, sweet spices—aromatic, intoxicating, complex. This should age very slowly and for a very long time.

• James Suckling: Extremely well-mannered, traditional character to this, showing layer upon layer of savory complexity on the nose, with iron, dried meat, tobacco, balsamic fruit, dried red berries, orange peel, leather and dried mushrooms. A medium-to full-bodied, linear and zesty Rioja that’s full of nuanced flavors that linger through the very long, savory finish. Floral, too. Yet, it remains bright and precise. Tempranillo with 16% mazuelo.

Producer Information

Marqués de Murrieta is one of the most famous estates in the Rioja region of Spain. It is one of the more traditional houses in Rioja, and is best known for its Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, a Tempranillo-dominant wine with a small amount of Mazuelo. On top of this, Marqués de Murrieta makes a range of other wines in the region, including a varietal Mazuelo and a premium white Rioja. The company was founded in 1852 by Luciano de Murrieta, and has been owned by the Cebrián-Sagarriga family since 1983. The winery is located to the east of Logroño, which at the time of construction was within the Rioja Oriental (Rioja Baja) area. However, it was felt that Murrieta could not be allowed to belong in what was considered an inferior subregion, so the boundary was moved. Today, the estate is located in its own enclave of La Rioja Alta. Marqués de Murrieta's wines are made from estate-grown fruit. The vineyards total 300 hectares (740 acres) and are located between 400 and 500 meters (1,300-1,600 feet) above sea level. The Castillo Ygay wine is sourced from an individual plot in the vineyard, as is the estate's other top wine, the modern style Dalmau Reserva made from Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano. The Castillo Ygay is aged for 30 months in American oak barriques,while the Dalmau sees 19 months in French oak. A range of other wines are made at Marqués de Murrieta, covering both the Reserva and Gran Reserva designations. These include the Marqués de Murrieta Reserva, which spends 21 months in American oak, and the Capellania Reserva Blanco, a Viura fermented in stainless steel then aged for 17 months in new French oak. Murrieta also owns Pazo Barrantes, a producer of Albariño in the Rias Baixas appellation of Galicia.

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.