We could start talking about the Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 by Marqués de Murrieta by simply saying it scored a perfect 100 points from James Suckling and 97 from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. But honestly, that’s not even the most important thing about this wine. What truly matters is that it belongs to the pantheon of the world’s greatest wines. It was named Best Rioja of 2025 by Decanter with a stunning 98 points, and it consistently ranks high on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines list. Impressive? Absolutely. But there’s more — much more. Keep reading and you’ll see.
Some wines are simply made to be consumed. Others are born to make history. Castillo Ygay is undoubtedly one of the latter — a living symbol of Rioja, carrying the wisdom and consistency of a vision that began back in 1852. It’s not released every year. Only when nature, the vineyard, and the winemaker align perfectly. That’s why collectors chase it relentlessly, and when they find it, they don’t let it go. Especially after 2020, when Castillo Ygay 2010 was named the Best Wine in the World in Wine Spectator's Top 100 ranking, among 11,000 wines.
The journey of the 2012 vintage begins in the historic La Plana vineyard, nestled in the heart of the Ygay estate at 485 meters above sea level, where the first vines were planted in 1950. The year 2012 brought challenges — drought, low yields — but also exceptional quality. From this unique terroir, the winemakers selected only the finest Tempranillo (81%) and Mazuelo (19%) grapes to craft a wine built to stand the test of time.
The winemaking process is almost ceremonial. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel tanks. The Tempranillo is aged for 34 months in American oak barrels, while the Mazuelo matures in French barriques. After blending, the wine rests for another 20 months in concrete tanks before being bottled in May 2019. The result is a wine of depth, complexity, and moving elegance.
But Castillo Ygay 2012 is more than just a great wine — it’s a piece of Spanish history, impossible to ignore. As Robert Parker said, this is the greatest Rioja of all time.
