The 2012 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial is a remarkable red wine from the esteemed Rioja region in Spain. This proprietary blend consists of 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo, sourced from the La Plana plot on the Ygay estate, planted in 1950. The Tempranillo and Mazuelo grapes underwent separate fermentation and aging processes, with the Tempranillo matured in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo in French barriques for 34 months, followed by an additional 20 months in concrete.

James Suckling awarded this wine a perfect score of 100, noting its "elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth" and its "endless" finesse and finish. He likened it to legendary vintages, suggesting it has a "wonderful future."

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave it a 97, highlighting its classical style with "notes of earth, cedar, spice and meat," and describing the palate as "polished, sleek and elegant." The publication appreciates its earthy rusticity and acknowledges its potential, given no subsequent vintages will be released until 2016.

Wine Spectator scored it 95, appreciating the wine's "rich flavors of plum compote and dried cherry," and its "lovely interplay between generosity and finesse," with fine, chalky tannins and a long, fragrant finish.

Vinous also rated this wine 97, praising its "complex aroma of bee wax, dried flowers, cassis, and sour cherry," with a "dry, silky and fairly juicy" profile. The publication emphasized its energy and aging potential, making it a wine to savor over time.

Overall, the 2012 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial is a sophisticated and balanced wine, celebrated for its depth, complexity, and exemplary aging potential.