Castillo Ygay 1925 Reserva Especial

Wine: Castillo Ygay 1925 Reserva Especial
Winery: Marqués de Murrieta (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 49% Tempranillo, 19% Garnacha, 17% Mazuelo, 15% Graciano.
ABV: 13% vol.

Winemaking

Grapes sourced from Pago La Plana, the highest plot of the Finca Ygay estate. Fermentation took place in American oak vats for 30 days. The wine remained for 8 months in large founding-era wooden vats (6,000–7,000 liters) to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It matured for 5 years in semi-new 225-liter American oak barrels, followed by a secondary maturation in used wooden vats for an additional 32 years—totaling 393 months of aging. Hand-bottled directly from the barrels in April 1964. It underwent a minimum of 5 years of bottle aging before commercial release. Corks are typically replaced every 20 years; however, this bottle features an original cork from an early commercial lot. Relabeled in 1985.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Light ruby color with medium depth; clean and brilliant, with a very fine sediment at the base of the bottle. Luminous amber reflections. Wide, tawny/brick-colored rim with minimal distinction from the meniscus. (Note: Excellent original cork—swollen, elastic, and extracted in one piece).

 

Nose: Initially presents medium intensity. Excellently outlined, with a growing presence of spicy notes over a backdrop of undergrowth and very fine balsams. Hints reminiscent of grape stalks and skins appear alongside very ripe candied fruit, providing a minty complexity that fuses with old oak (reminiscent of After Eight). It breathes and opens slowly with spectacular power. More sober than elegant, more integral than profound. Beautiful layers of leaf litter and damp earth emerge without overshadowing the core of reduced fruit. A red of immense purity.

 

Palate: Pure energy and absolute balance. A caress upon entry followed by extraordinary, vibrant vigor; the tannins are still sparkling and possess "teeth" despite its age. It carries an acidity that any modern red would envy. In peak form, displaying a youthfulness and freshness that one would never suspect in a wine nearing its centenary.

 

Commentary

The 1925 Reserva Especial is a staggering monument to Riojan longevity. To find such integrity and "teeth" in a wine nearly ninety years old is a testament to the legendary winemaking of Marqués de Murrieta. It avoids the frailty of many centenarians, offering instead a vibrant, vertical experience that defies logic. A wine of immense purity and historical weight that still has plenty of life ahead.

 

Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Average: 98