Castillo Ygay 2012 named best Rioja by Decanter in annual ranking of over 700 wines

The British magazine Decanter has named Castillo Ygay 2012, produced by Marqués de Murrieta, as the best Rioja wine in its latest annual report. The announcement was made in London, where Decanter’s editors Inés Salpico and Beth Willard revealed the results after blind tasting more than 700 wines from the Rioja region. Decanter, founded in 1975, is considered one of the most influential wine publications worldwide. This recognition comes as Rioja celebrates the centenary of its Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa), a period marked by change and renewed focus on quality.

Castillo Ygay has a long history of accolades. Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, president of Marqués de Murrieta, expressed gratitude to his team for their dedication and passion. He described Castillo Ygay as a wine that stands the test of time and said that the pursuit of excellence continues to yield results for the winery.

The 2012 vintage of Castillo Ygay is made from grapes grown in La Plana, a 40-hectare vineyard planted in 1950 at the highest point of Finca Ygay. This site is known for producing some of the best fruit in Rioja. The wine has become an icon among Spanish wines, earning perfect scores from leading critics such as Robert Parker and James Suckling on several occasions. In 2020, Wine Spectator named Castillo Ygay “Wine of the Year,” which helped raise the profile of Spanish wines internationally.

The latest honor from Decanter is not the only recognition for Castillo Ygay 2012. At the end of 2024, Spanish wine critic Pilar Cavero ranked it as the top Spanish wine in her ABC Guide. Internationally, James Suckling awarded it 100 points after tasting more than 4,000 wines. The retail price for this vintage is around €290.

The continued success of Castillo Ygay highlights both the tradition and innovation present in Rioja today. As the region marks its centenary, producers like Marqués de Murrieta are showing that commitment to quality can bring global attention and respect to Spanish wines.