Algarve’s Apolónia supermarkets are now selling the “Wine of the Year 2020” – Spanish winery Marqués de Murrieta’s 2010 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial – as named by prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator.
As the publication points out, “Marqués de Murrieta is one of the founding wineries in Rioja, Spain’s premier wine-producing region.”
“Established in the 1850s, Marqués de Murrieta was a leader in using French techniques to develop greater complexity and longevity from Tempranillo, Rioja’s indigenous red grape,” it adds.
All of Murrieta’s wines are made from grapes grown in the 740-acre vineyard that surrounds the winery, located in the Rioja Alta sub region.
Castillo Ygay is Murrieta’s “flagship bottling”, according to the magazine.
The wine is made using 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo grapes and aged for 24 months in 225-litre American and French oak barrels.
“Sourced from a 98-acre plot planted in 1950, it is made only in top vintages. It’s a blend of mostly Tempranillo, which is aged in American oak barrels, with a small percentage of Mazuelo, which is aged in French oak. The wine is matured for a decade in the winery cellar before release,” the publication writes.
“The 2010 vintage is Rioja’s best so far this century. Rich yet harmonious, this wine should drink well for decades.”
Apolónia points out that the wine is “extremely limited” due to high international demand. Priced at €199.95, the wine is not available on Apolónia’s online store, but reservations can be made by email ([email protected]).
To mark the occasion, the supermarkets are also selling the winery’s selection of Reserva and Grande Reserva wines.
