Wine: Castillo Ygay 1959 Gran Reserva Especial
Winery: Marqués de Murrieta (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 73% Tempranillo, 12% Mazuelo, 11% Garnacha, 4% Graciano.
ABV: 13% vol.
Winery: Marqués de Murrieta (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 73% Tempranillo, 12% Mazuelo, 11% Garnacha, 4% Graciano.
ABV: 13% vol.
Winemaking:
Grapes sourced from the Pago La Plana, the highest elevation plot of the Ygay Estate. The wine fermented in American oak vats for 30 days, followed by 6 months in large wooden tanks (6,000 to 7,000 liters) to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize. It then matured for 4 years in 225-liter American oak barrels before being transferred to neutral wooden vats, completing a total of 318 months (over 26 years) in contact with oak. It was bottled by hand directly from the casks in May 1986. (Note: The winery performs systematic re-corking every 20 years to ensure optimal bottle development).
Grapes sourced from the Pago La Plana, the highest elevation plot of the Ygay Estate. The wine fermented in American oak vats for 30 days, followed by 6 months in large wooden tanks (6,000 to 7,000 liters) to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize. It then matured for 4 years in 225-liter American oak barrels before being transferred to neutral wooden vats, completing a total of 318 months (over 26 years) in contact with oak. It was bottled by hand directly from the casks in May 1986. (Note: The winery performs systematic re-corking every 20 years to ensure optimal bottle development).
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Reddish-ruby color with medium-high depth; remarkably stable and deep.
Featuring brilliant garnet and orange reflections. Significant sediment
is present at the base. The rim is minimal and brick-orange, showing a
sharp contrast against a meniscus that transitions into absolute
opacity.
Nose:
Overpoweringly potent, expressive, and multifaceted. It opens with
extreme reduction—notes of musk, iron-like hints of blood, and gamey faisandage.
It is a disconcerting and complex wine that demands aeration, rewarding
the taster with a shifting character. It evolves orderly, shedding its
initial weight to gain finesse, moving from vegetal notes of tea leaves
and fenugreek to fine oak and high-quality, almost spirituous
wine-soaked wood, supported by abundant ripe red fruit. A tumultuous and
deeply informative bouquet.
Palate:
It possesses an intimidating, rocky structure; concentrated and endowed
with extreme acidity that guarantees an exceptionally long life.
Vigorous and spicy, it offers a depth that feels almost inaccessible at
this stage. It displays pure, contained energy that will continue to
refine over the decades.
Commentary:
The 1959 Castillo Ygay is a "gravedigger" wine—built to outlive generations. It shares the DNA of the legendary 1964 but with an added layer of sheer force. Its current state is one of raw power and structural tension; drinking it now almost feels premature, as its true potential remains partially veiled behind its massive acidity and concentration. A monumental Rioja for the ages.
The 1959 Castillo Ygay is a "gravedigger" wine—built to outlive generations. It shares the DNA of the legendary 1964 but with an added layer of sheer force. Its current state is one of raw power and structural tension; drinking it now almost feels premature, as its true potential remains partially veiled behind its massive acidity and concentration. A monumental Rioja for the ages.
Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Average: 97
Tasting Group Average: 97
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