In the glass
Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar, balsamic, sweet spice
Palate: macerated red fruit, leather, truffle, fine tannin
The estate's flagship from the Ygay vineyard, released only in exceptional years after a decade-plus of ageing; the 2010 was named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2020, a savoury, classical Gran Reserva of great longevity.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-roasted lamb is the historic match for this grand old-school Gran Reserva. -
Roast partridge
Game's gaminess meets the wine's truffle and tobacco depth. -
Chuleton de buey
Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
Aged-beef chop frames the wine's fine tannin and savoury oak. -
Aged Idiazabal
Smoked Basque sheep cheese mirrors the wine's cedar and balsamic.
How to serve Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Roast partridge, Chuleton de buey. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Castillo Ygay is the estate's prestige bottling from the oldest parcels of the Ygay vineyard, made only in exceptional vintages and aged for many years in oak and bottle. The 2010 was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2020.
- 1917 — First Castillo Ygay vintage laid down
- 1986 — A legendary 1942 Castillo Ygay released after decades in cask
- 2020 — 2010 vintage named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year
Facts
- Producer
- Marques de Murrieta
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (84%), Mazuelo (16%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Long ageing in a mix of American and French oak, often more than a decade, plus extended bottle age before release
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 100 to 250 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1917
Scores
- Wine Spectator 97 (2010 vintage, reviewed 2020)
- Tim Atkin 97 (2010 vintage, reviewed 2020)
Frequently asked about Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial
What does Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial taste like?
On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar, balsamic, sweet spice. On the palate, macerated red fruit, leather, truffle, fine tannin. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. The estate's flagship from the Ygay vineyard, released only in exceptional years after a decade-plus of ageing; the 2010 was named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2020, a savoury, classical Gran Reserva of great longevity.
When should I drink Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial?
Drink 10 to 40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast partridge and Chuleton de buey. Vine-roasted lamb is the historic match for this grand old-school Gran Reserva.
Is Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial?
The blend is Tempranillo (84%), Mazuelo (16%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.