Descripción

Castillo Ygay es una de las etiquetas centenarias de Rioja. Se diseña siguiendo la serigrafía de los primeros vinos de la región. De hecho, fue uno de los primeros vinos que nacieron en Rioja cuando los elaboradores franceses, afectados por la filoxera, llegaron a esta zona para abastecerse. Un vino de obligado conocimiento para saber lo que es un Rioja de corte clásico adaptado a los tiempos. En su anterior añada fue elegido como mejor vino del mundo de 2020 por Wine Spectator y, como curiosidad, es uno de los riojas favoritos de nuestro equipo.

Ficha técnica

Tipo
Tinto Gran Reserva
Añada
2011
Grado
14.0% vol.
Producción
131.668 botellas
Variedad
84% Tempranillo, 16% Mazuelo
Otros formatos disponibles:
Origen
Rioja

Cata

Nariz
Aromas de picota madura, arándanos y cassis con sutiles notas de monte bajo, hierbas mediterráneas, pimienta negra, clavo y moca.
Boca
Equilibrado, vivo, envolvente y armónico. Con taninos sedosos y un largo y elegante final.
Temperatura de servicio
Se recomienda servir entre 17 y 18 ºC.
Maridaje
La bodega lo recomienda tomar con mero al vapor, chipirón a la brasa, rabo de 'wagy'u en vino tinto, milhojas de anguila ahumada y foie o queso de oveja al tartufo.

Viñedo y elaboración

Nombre
Pago La Plana
Descripción
Viñedo propio ubicado en la zona más elevada de la Finca Ygay, a 485 metros de altitud.
Superficie
40 ha.
Edad
Plantado en 1950.
Suelo
Su suelo arcillo calcáreo disfruta de una gran presencia de cantos rodados en superficie favoreciendo el aprovechamiento del agua de lluvia y la óptima maduración de sus uvas.
Clima
Continental con influencias atlánticas y mediterráneas.
Cosecha
Vendimia manual. El Tempranillo se vendimió el 17 y 22 de septiembre y el Mazuelo el 28 de septiembre.
Vinificación
Los racimos se despalillan y estrujan suavemente. Las uvas fermentan por separado en depósitos de acero inoxidable, con control de temperatura. El encubado tiene una duración de 11 días durante los cuales se realizan continuas labores de remontados y bazuqueos para favorecer el contacto del mosto con los hollejos y provocar una lenta y natural extracción de aromas y polifenoles.
Envejecimiento
Crianza de 28 meses en barricas de roble americano (Tempranillo) y francés (Mazuelo) de 225 litros. El vino pasa 13 meses en depósito de hormigón tras el ensamblaje.
Embotellado
Tuvo lugar en febrero de 2016.

Opinión de los críticos

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. Drink on release or hold.

The 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...

Decanter:

The essence of classicism, built upon utmost care in the vineyard and the strictest selection. Made from selected plots within a single vineyard, aged in concrete for one year before starting oak ageing during 28 months, followed by bottle ageing for at least six more years. It looks deceptively mature, having a very long life ahead, but being delicious to drink now. Intense classic aromas of dried fruit and undergrowth, enhanced by notes of clove and tea leaves, and with a difficult to express memory of black fruit. Round and rich in the mouth, silky and intense, slow and generous. A top wine, not far from its now iconic 2010 sibling. If one could live to see this wine at its peak....

Tim Atkin:

Up a point with an extra year in bottle, the 2011 Ygay seems to have settled into its skin over the last 12 months. Made from a duo of Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo, respectively aged in American and French oak, this has balsamic, Mediterranean herb top notes of pine and rosemary, subtle oak spices, plenty of density and focus and the acidity, tannic structure and dark berry fruit power to age. 2027-45