In the glass
Aroma: dried apricot, beeswax, toasted almond, honey, saline
Palate: quince, preserved lemon, nutty depth, mineral
An extraordinarily rare white Gran Reserva, released decades after the harvest; the 1986 was relaunched to acclaim, with profound nutty, waxy oxidative complexity and electric acidity.
What it pairs with
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Roast turbot
A grand white fish dish for one of Spain's grandest old whites. -
Kokotxas de merluza
Find kokotxas de merluza on TableJourney →
Hake cheeks in pil pil meet the wine's gelatinous, nutty depth. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the white's saline, honeyed finish.
History
The white Castillo Ygay is among the rarest aged whites in Spain, held for many years before release. The relaunched 1986 vintage became a collector's wine.
- 1986 — Vintage later relaunched as a landmark aged white
- 2017 — 1986 Blanco released to critical acclaim
Facts
- Producer
- Marques de Murrieta
- Grapes
- Viura (95%), Malvasia (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Extended ageing in oak, often more than a decade, before release
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 250 to 500 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1986
Scores
- Tim Atkin 97 (1986 vintage, reviewed 2017)