Castillo Ygay 2012
Our flagship, a benchmark in the D.O. Ca Rioja with an unquestionable recognition worldwide. It represents the consistency of a project started in 1852 and masterfully maintained. Part of its greatness resides on the fact that it is only made in selected vintages. Castillo Ygay has developed a great complexity over the years without losing its exceptional freshness and demonstrating its superb quality and marked elegance.
Castillo Ygay 2012 LIMITED UNITS
Castillo Ygay is always made from grapes sourced from La Plana, a 40-hectare (98-acre) vineyard, planted in 1950 and located at 485 meters altitude, the highest area of Ygay Estate; the 300-hectare estate surrounding the winery in Rioja Alta.
A manually selected harvest is done in small crates to keep the perfect conditions of the grapes. Tempranillo was harvested on September 17th to 19th, and mazuelo on September 25th, 2012.
Grapes are de-stemmed after going through a selection table. The grape varieties ferment separately in stainless steel tanks, with controlled temperature. The alcoholic fermentation lasts 10-12 days approx. making regularly pumping over and delestage operations to favor the contact of the must with the skins and extract slowly the aromas and the phenolic compounds.
The tempranillo is aged for 34 months in 225-litre American oak barrels and the mazuelo is aged for 34 months in 225-litre French oak barrels. After blending, the wine remains 20 months in a concrete tank until bottling.
Grilled and creamy boletus edulis with a touch of sourness, white truffle and organic egg yolk; raw scarlet shrimp, Cameros black truffle and crunchy sour ink; cuts of Wagyu and Sayaguesa race sirloin in a mazuelo canes oven, piquillo peppers nectar, black truffle sauce and soufflé potatoes; Hooked Red porgy, velouté from its collagen and oyster in a fine lemon verbena pickle with beluga caviar; blue and truffled cheeses cake with caramelized bitter nut.
Grape varieties: 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo.
Alcohol level: 14% abv.
Bottling date: may, 2019.
Number of bottles: 103,216 (0.75 l), 3,121 (1.5 l), 326 (3 l), 205 (6 l) and 20 (12 l).
Serving suggestions: Recommended service temperature: 16⁰C (60⁰F).
Scores
Castillo Ygay 2012 LIMITED UNITS
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JAMES SUCKLING (USA): 100 points.
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GUÍA PEÑÍN (SPA): 99 points.
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P. BALLESTEROS MW, CLUB ENOLOGIQUE: 98 points.
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GUÍA GOURMETS (SPA): 98 POINTS.
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DECANTER (UK): 97 points.
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ROBERT PARKER (USA): 97 points.
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FALSTAFF (DEU): 97 points.
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WINE SPECTATOR (USA): 95 points.
Tasting note
A full and complex nose with black cherry and ripe plum aromas, cloaking hints of tea leaves, cedar wood and Mediterranean herbs on a background of dried flowers. Well framed and deep in the mouth, with polished tannins and full of nuances; harmonious and long-lived. “Another legendary Castillo Ygay vintage that brazenly challenges the passage of time”. María Vargas - Technical Director of Marqués de Murrieta.