2012 Castillo Ygay, Gran Reserva Especial, Marqués de Murrieta, Rioja, Spain

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.

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.

The 2012 Gran Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay is 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo from Rioja Alta. Delicate and complex, it delivers aromas of soft mint, fine cherry, red fruit, undergrowth and evolved oaky flavors such as coconut and pomegranate. The palate is silky, juicy and fresh, with polished tannins and a long, nuanced finish. The Mazuelo brings tension and elegance, refining the profile. Oak still frames this, but the tertiary detail and structure are those of a classic Rioja. The 2012 is captivating in a traditional style.

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.