2017 Marques de Murrieta Reserva Finca Ygay 0.5 ltr

The Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay can best be described as a beautiful classic red wine from the Rioja Alta which is without doubt the very best part of this famous Spanish wine region. The altitude provides coolness and a good difference between day and night temperatures and this is an important element that gives a wine its sophistication and elegance. Marqués de Murrieta is one of the oldest wineries of the Rioja and is a winery with a 'bordeaux injection'

The Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay is a blend of 83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo, 2% Garnacha coming from the great year 2016. The wine has matured for 18 months in new oaks (barriques of 225 liters) and then has had been bottle-aged for at least 12 months. In the glass, the Marques de Murrieta Reserva is an intense deep cherry red and sparkles in the glass. In the nose fresh and fresh aromas of ripe red fruit, spicy, a little leather, spicy and wood tones. On the palate, the Murrieta Reserva is powerful with a good balance between the ripe fruit and the woody notes. Powerful tannins. Elegant and full bodied with everything perfectly balanced. It's no surprise that all wine critics rate this wine high above 90 points year-in-year-out. The 2017 was a beautiful year in the Rioja without excesses and this is also reflected in the high scores for this vintage by Parker and Suckling.

This version comes in a beautiful 0.5 liter bottle, so 2/3 of the content of a normal bottle.

95/100 James Suckling & 93/100 Parker

All the vineyards of Finca Ygay (Marqués de Murrieta), together about 300 hectares, are located at the bodega and are owned by the family. The now completely renovated Castillo Ygay is the headquarters of Marqués de Murrieta. Finca Ygay has significant differences in soil. The altitude of the vineyards varies from 300 to 500 m and the area falls under Rioja Alta. These differences in soil conditions give Murrieta the opportunity to produce varied wines.

Due to its relatively cool location, this area is extremely suitable for the production of the most refined wines. The largest vineyard: Valsalado produces the grapes for the Murrieta Reserva. The highest part of the domain is called La Plana. The grapes from this area (Tempranillo and Mazuelo), from old vines on loam, form the basis of the world-famous Gran Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay (made only in good years) and of the excellent white wine Capellania. This wine has matured for 15 months in French oak; a Burgundian wine, but also a beautiful and modern white Rioja. The slightly lower vineyard Las Canajas, where Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in the 1980s, has a soil of pebbles and calcareous clay. Since 1994, the grapes from this area have formed the basis for Dalmau, the "modern" Murrieta, named after Vicente Dalmau Jr., one of the current owners.

Read more about this famous house under the tab: Wijnhuis and click here for a nice video impression of Marques de Murrieta.