It’s as if we had Count István Széchenyi as a dinner guest. Castillo Ygay is a founding father, a legend and an active academic all in one. The beginning of modern Rioja is marked by the vines planted on the Ygay estate in 1825. The first commercial vintage of Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was 1877 (with the same label as now!), and the previous vintage of it, the 2010, was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator.

The 2011 Gran Reserva Especial is made from 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena). The grapes were harvested from 70-year-old vines grown on the La Plana plot, at an altitude of 485 metres. The Tempranillo was aged for 28 months in American oak barrels, while the Mazuelo was aged for the same amount of time in French barriques. It’s characterized by immaculate harmony and elegance, while it also seems very young and lively (it’s hard to believe it has already spent six years in the bottle). It’s an intoxicatingly aromatic, complex wine. Pipe tobacco, antique furniture and sweet spicy notes are mixed with aromas reminiscent of Black Forest gateaux, orange peel, raspberries and juniper berries. It’s very long, rich in different tones, with a tasty finish and velvety tannins.

Limited availability, max 1 bottle/customer