2005 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

Community Tasting Note

jrh82 Likes this wine:

93 Points

Saturday, April 15, 2017 - I had fairly high expectations to this wine as it's meant to be the best this producer has to offer in addition to it being from a top top vintage (on par with '01 and '04). The wine didn't disappoint and was exquisit. The cork was a wee bit dry but stayed together as it popped. I left it in a caraph for 1,5 hours before drinking which it certainly needed as it was initially rather tight and didn't give off a lot on the nose. Developed nicely in the glass. Primarily red fruit on the nose - strawberry, raspberry, cherry but also underlying plum, some oak (not too much), some leather, spices. Lovely integrated tannins which provide structure but doesn't overwhelm. On the taste more cherry, leather, spcies and some vanilla on the aftertaste. Lovely refreshing acidity. The wine was a dream match with lamb. Very classic Rioja, fairly robust and elegant without being heavy. Still I believe it has lots more to offer so will wait 5-7 years before openin the next bottle.

Post a Comment /
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (5,238 views)

4 comments have been posted

Comment posted by NoTrollingerPlease:

4/24/2017 12:16:00 PM - Way too young unfortunately. Wait at least 7 years, better 10. 1989 is showing nicely today ... :)
Comment posted by chatters:

4/24/2017 8:00:00 PM - Possibly...depends on your taste...I can remember being shocked about how young the French drink their Bordeaux, for instance...cheers chatters
Comment posted by NoTrollingerPlease:

4/24/2017 11:33:00 PM - @Chatters: Absolutely. Always a matter of taste and every vintage is different :) My statement is based on my experiences of Ygay GRE in a vertical over several decades. 2005 drinks nicely now, but does not show its full potential yet. It has not developed its full tertiary aromas yet.
Comment posted by chatters:

4/25/2017 12:39:00 AM - Oh, I'm with you...I've tried a few of my 2001's but they were all puppies...last time I tapped one with Coravin a couple of years it was just showing it's tertiary elements...Having said that I can still appreciate the avuncular and rambunctious joy of that unbridled, enthusiastic primary fruit and secondary oak...