Castillo Ygay once again makes history as Spain's most awarded wine, earning this time the highest accolade from the influential wine critic Pilar Cavero.
Recognized as Spain's Best Sommelier, the prestigious prescriptor has crowned Castillo Ygay 2012 as the best wine in Spain, awarding it the highest score this year in the ABC Wine Guide 2025 and highlighting the current vintage as a ‘brilliant vintage’.
“This news fills us with immense joy, and I can only thank my entire team for their daily effort and tireless passion. We receive every recognition with humility, but it encourages us to follow a path based on good work and the pursuit of excellence’, says Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, president of Marqués de Murrieta, who celebrates this new recognition for his great oenological jewel.
An Icon of Excellence
The story of Castillo Ygay is a milestone-filled journey for Spanish wine. Recognized as one of the world's most admired and sought-after wines, it has received the coveted 100-point score on 18 occasions from leading critics such as Robert Parker and James Suckling, making it the most frequently awarded Spanish wine at this level.
In 2020, it reached the pinnacle of acclaim when it was named Best Wine in the World by the American publication Wine Spectator, a milestone that undeniably bolstered the reputation of premium Spanish wines internationally.
Castillo Ygay is crafted exclusively with the finest grapes from La Plana, a 40-hectare vineyard planted in 1950. This plot is located in the highest area of the legendary 300-hectare Finca Ygay estate, which surrounds the Marqués de Murrieta winery in Rioja Alta.
The 2012 Vintage
The technical team at the winery sets an exceptionally high standard for this wine. Part of its greatness lies in the fact that it is only produced in vintages deemed exceptional, such as 2012. In fact, the 2013, 2014, and 2015 vintages of Castillo Ygay will not be released. The next vintage, 2016, is expected to arrive on the market in 2026.
This latest recognition is not the only accolade the 2012 vintage has garnered. Just a year ago, the influential critic James Suckling awarded it the coveted 100-point score after tasting over 4,000 wines.
"2012 is a historic vintage of Castillo Ygay that boldly defies the passage of time. Fortunately, the tremendous effort dedicated to this vintage is reaping extraordinary rewards", emphasizes María Vargas, the winery's technical director, who has been named Best Winemaker in the World on several occasions.
