“The 2015 vintage of Rioja Finca Ygay “Gran Reserva” from Marqués de Murrieta is crafted from a cépages of eighty percent tempranillo, nine percent each of graciano and mazuelo and two percent garnacha. The wine was aged for twenty-seven months in two hundred and twenty-five liter, American oak casks and comes in at an even fourteen percent in this warm year. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a complex blend of red and black raspberries, cigar wrapper, lovely meaty tones, cloves, a touch of celery seed, salty minerality, spicy American oak and a topnote of woodsmoke. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and youthfully structured, with absolutely superb depth at the core, fine soil signature and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins, tangy acids and excellent focus and balance on the long, complex and very promising finish. 2015 produced plenty [113] of potential structure in Rioja and this excellent Gran Reserva has a fine chassis for long-term cellaring and should prove to be a very long-lived wine that will drink splendidly once it is ready. 2033-2100.”

“Look at an early bottle of this wine and you will see that it was labelled Château Ygay. However, eventually France complained – hence the Castillo Ygay we have now. The Castle is a worthy name for one of Rioja's most famed wines from one of Rioja's founding wineries. It carries lightly its two years in American oak and its following years in bottle, revealing elegant spicing, red fruits and bright acidity. The 16% Mazuelo is important here for freshness: a distinguishing feature of Murrieta vineyard resources.”

“Marqués de Murrieta spoils the Rioja lover for choice, with Gran Reserva Especial as well as this fine Gran Reserva, and a very delicious reserva. Why select a Gran Reserva when the Reserva is so good? Because this is a wine made with great precision by winemaker María Vargas, who is also a master blender. Her attention to detail brings out a wonderfully complex expression of the succulent dark fruit, layered with very fine American oak.”

“Delivers a generous range of black plum reduction, floral, dried fig, mocha and eucalyptus aromas and flavors set in a sleek, well-defined frame that integrates sculpted tannins and orange peel acidity. Maintains a deft balance between richness and restraint. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano. Drink now through 2030.”

“There was no Dalmau in 2018, so the 2019 will be released a little earlier than usual. Made with Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Graciano, all of it from the nine-hectare Canajas vineyard, this is structured, inky and wonderfully profound, with some leafy top notes, chalky minerality, dark, brooding liquorice, cassis and blackberry fruit, perfumed French oak and the concentration to reward patience. 2027-2040.”