At Marqués de Murrieta, every step in the process of creating Castillo Ygay is carried out with great care and precision. The Tempranillo grapes are aged for 28 months in American oak barrels, while the Mazuelo grapes spend an equal amount of time in French oak. After this careful aging, the wines are blended and allowed to mature together for another 13 months in concrete vats before bottling. Selective hand harvesting and the use of small crates ensure the grapes remain in perfect condition, which is essential for the exceptional quality of this wine.
The production of Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial is a testament to meticulousness and expertise. The selected grapes are destemmed and then fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, where the temperature is precisely controlled. This process, which takes approximately 10 to 12 days, involves regular pumping over to ensure optimal extraction of aromas and phenolic components. This results in a wine of great depth and complexity.
The grapes specifically for this special wine come from La Plana, a 40-hectare vineyard planted in 1950 at the highest point of the Ygay Estate, 485 meters above sea level. This location contributes to the exceptional quality of the grapes, thanks to the ideal growing conditions and unique microclimate, which gives the wine its characteristic Rioja Alta identity.
Following the acclaimed 2009 and 2010 vintages, Marques de Murrieta releases perhaps its most impressive Castillo Ygay to date – the 2012 vintage. This flagship wine is produced only in years when the harvest is of exceptional quality, making the 2012 edition a true treasure. The carefully selected grapes, the refined fermentation processes, and the patient aging make this wine an unparalleled masterpiece, ready to be enjoyed now or aged for many years to come.
