98pts James Suckling

Extremely well-mannered, traditional character to this, showing layer upon layer of savory complexity on the nose, with iron, dried meat, tobacco, balsamic fruit, dried red berries, orange peel, leather and dried mushrooms. A medium-to full-bodied, linear and zesty Rioja that’s full of nuanced flavors that linger through the very long, savory finish. Floral, too. Yet, it remains bright and precise. Tempranillo with 16% mazuelo.

98pts Falstaff

Complex bouquet with notes of warm raspberry, plum, blueberry and dark cherry. Hints of dark chocolate, tobacco and caramel as well as balsamic and floral nuances. Also a hint of coconut matting. Fresh, elegant and balanced on the palate, with ripe acidity and velvety, fine-grained tannins. Long finish.

97pts Wine Enthusiast

Deep violet-red to the eye, this wine has a nose of raspberry, white chocolate and juniper berry. Still youthful on the palate, it offers ever-present tannins supporting flavors of dark plum, black cherry, caramel and violet that slowly fade into a soft cherry-pie finish. Drink through 2042.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from a plot called La Plana that was planted in 1950 at 485 meters in altitude, the highest in the Ygay property. The grapes were picked between September 17 and 22, and the Mazuelo was later, on September 28. The bunches were destemmed and lightly crushed and put to ferment in stainless steel for 11 days with constant pump-overs and punch-downs. The Tempranillo matured for 28 months in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo for 28 months in French barriques. It's 14% alcohol and has a pH of 3.65 with 5.6 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). It's very tough to follow a vintage like 2010, and 2011 was not an easy year; the wine is possibly more powerful and concentrated but keeping the freshness, with a longer élevage but very young and lively, with an elegant texture and mouthfeel, great balance and elegance. The wine feels lively, and it seems impossible that it has been in bottle for over six years. It has the classical profile with the effect of the American oak barrels, cigar box, cedar wood, sweet spices—aromatic, intoxicating, complex. This should age very slowly and for a very long time. 131,668 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2016. No 2013, 2014 or 2015 will be produced. They have a 2012, and they will jump from that to 2016. The 2012 will be released in late 2023 or early 2024 and the 2016 in 2027 or 2028. Finger crossed...

97pts Decanter

97pts Tim Atkin

95pts Vinous

Deep garnet. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet evokes red and blue fruits, incense, pipe tobacco, vanilla and mocha, along with smoky mineral and spice nuances that build in the glass. Sappy, palate-staining black raspberry, cherry compote, succulent herb, candied rose and vanilla flavors show excellent depth and clarity, while a spine of juicy acidity contributes cut and structure. Shows excellent energy and detail, finishing with strong persistence, repeating florality and velvety tannins that come in late.

94pts Wine Spectator

This polished red shows lots of depth, with cola-lined notes of glossy dark cherry and black olive hedged with wild herb, anise, loamy earth, mocha and clove. Refined, harmonious and expressive. Drink now through 2031.

Winemaker Notes

An infinite and complex range of aromas define this Castillo Ygay 2011 that evokes aromas of ripe cherry, blueberries and cassis with refined touches of scrubland, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, cloves and mocha. Balance defines this wine vintage after vintage; lively on the palate as well as enveloping and harmonious. With silky tannins and a long, elegant finish.

Number of bottles: 131,668

Blend: 84% Tempranillo,16% Mazuelo