Wanted: TN on Castillo Ygay 1994

"Rikke og Per" wrote in news:ZuIbb.1827$ snipped-for-privacy@news.getnet.dk:

From a 'well-known wine magazine' dated February 2003 (so drinking 2006 - 2009 I suppose!)...

"... expressive nose with clean fruit, spice and creamy oak. Refined structure on the palate with nutty aromas, balanced with soft tannin. a perfect complement to a meal. Drink 3-6 years."

I haven't tried recently. I've heard grumbles that the new-wave '94 Riojas were peaking quite early, but M.d. Murrietta is a very traditional producer, so think they would still have quite some time.

But if I personally had a case, I'd open a bottle now and then every two years. With very few exceptions, I find it more rewarding to check out a wine's progress myself, rather than try and wait and drink every bottle at some mythical peak moment. That's just me, of course.

One thing about Ygay. They seem to do a split release. In at least 1989 vintage, there seemed to be very significant differences between the early release and the later one (at least in NY). I don't know if it had to do with barrel variation, storage, or whatever, but the second release showed far worse than the earlier one.

Try one and let us know! Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

Oops. To clarify, I'd open one every two years, then speed up once I felt it was reaching maturity.

If one was certain that they liked their Rioja very well-aged (don't know about Ygay,. but for instance both the Tondonia and Bosconia from López de Heredia can age 40 or 50 years in good vintages), you might widen the sample time to 3 or 4 years. But old Rioja is not a taste for everyone, so I'd be sure that's what I wanted before I tried that.

Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

My can I provide you the webshop with this wine!

Please visit

Regards

PT Broker "Rikke og Per" escreveu na mensagem news:ZuIbb.1827$ snipped-for-privacy@news.getnet.dk...

The 94 Ygay is now drinking quite well - dried cherries and earthy tones, but there is no rush.

I don't know if it will last as long as the elegant 1978, or the 1952, which was lovely last year, or the 1942, which seemed to be about 30 years younger than it was, but there should be no hurry to drink it up!

Murrieta *was* a very traditional producer. After the takeover by Vicente Cebrián Sagarriga, Conde de Creixell, in 1983, things changed dramatically, and not to the better, imnsho. Vintages of Castillo Igay, their flagship, that never before was realeased untill full maturity (anything between 15 and 40 years old), appeared on the market at an unseen pace. Cebrián died 1996, 48 years old.

I did not notice any change in the firm's policy, alas: They are inventing new styles, new ranges - doing everything you'd expect from a 5 year old New World winery - but not from the most respected estate in Spain's most respected erd wine area that celebrated their 150th birthday last year.

M.

I have serious doubts if this wine will be anywhere even near the quality of the wines you mentioned.

M.

Murrieta *was* a very traditional producer. After the takeover by Vicente Cebrián Sagarriga, Conde de Creixell, in 1983, things changed dramatically, and not to the better, imnsho. Vintages of Castillo Igay, their flagship, that never before was realeased untill full maturity (anything between 15 and 40 years old), appeared on the market at an unseen pace. Cebrián died 1996, 48 years old.

I did not notice any change in the firm's policy, alas: They are inventing new styles, new ranges - doing everything you'd expect from a 5 year old New World winery - but not from the most respected estate in Spain's most respected wine area that celebrated their 150th birthday last year.

M.

Yes, a shame, and as you state, not a good indicator of what to expect in terms of longevity in the Ygay.

Thank you very much everybody for your feedback - I'll find the right occasion for testing the first bottle and let you know !

Per Denmark

Michael Pr>

Ygay Reserva 1997

If you find less this price, please inform their.

Regards

Azevedo

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