WTN: Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva 1989

Opened to soothe the pain of my most recent running injury. I started off well, but wondered after 2km why jogging is getting difficult. At three km my right ankle was in quite a bit of pain at which I headed for home. I only managed to jog one more km before I had to limp the rest of the way home. This is a dashed shame as usually on Sundays I've jogged 15-20 km, occasionally doing a half marathon+. The wine has almost made me smile, but not quite (too much pain for such things like smiling). The wine is brilliant and works well with the left overs of last night's risotto. I was surprised to see on cellar tracker that this is close to the end of its drinking window. For my tastes, it's just at the beginning of it. I'd like to keep this 5-10 years longer.

• 1989 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (9/10/2006)
  Fairly dark colour, some orange. The nose is quite lovely, but rather young and needs an hour decanting to open up. It has fine fruit and all the citrussy character of old style Rioja,with leather and earth, but also a touch of vanillary oak still noticable. The palate is sweetly fruity, still rather tannic and oaky, but with divinely high levels of acidity. Very long and savoury despite the sweet fruit. Lovely.

Posted from CellarTracker

Never run. Swim instead.

Otto
I hope you elevated your ankle whilst you had glass in hand! Maybe an open mike on rioja beckons...
regards
Ian

Otto
I hope you elevated your ankle whilst you had glass in hand! Maybe an open mike on rioja beckons...
regards
Ian

Yes: cold, rest and elevation are always applied during injury. No more open Mikes please as there are the Teroldego and Lombardy ones that I've sort of thought of doing with ... you know who ... Bob. I've got a couple tastings coming up next week so I can't take up one more OM. Sorry. Besides, I have no more Riojas after this one.

-O-

Otto
No probs - looking forward to your ones (maybe I might be able to get a Valtellina in )
regards
Ian

Thanks, Otto. I've only had the 1970 vintage of this wine (I've been spoiled by Perry) but this one sounds wonderful.

So you got one of the good bottles.

There are a number of these with VA so bad, it'll strip the paint off your walls...

Opened to soothe the pain of my most recent running injury. I started off well, but wondered after 2km why jogging is getting difficult. At three km my right ankle was in quite a bit of pain at which I headed for home. I only managed to jog one more km before I had to limp the rest of the way home. This is a dashed shame as usually on Sundays I've jogged 15-20 km, occasionally doing a half marathon+. The wine has almost made me smile, but not quite (too much pain for such things like smiling). The wine is brilliant and works well with the left overs of last night's risotto. I was surprised to see on cellar tracker that this is close to the end of its drinking window. For my tastes, it's just at the beginning of it. I'd like to keep this 5-10 years longer.

• 1989 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (9/10/2006)
  Fairly dark colour, some orange. The nose is quite lovely, but rather young and needs an hour decanting to open up. It has fine fruit and all the citrussy character of old style Rioja,with leather and earth, but also a touch of vanillary oak still noticable. The palate is sweetly fruity, still rather tannic and oaky, but with divinely high levels of acidity. Very long and savoury despite the sweet fruit. Lovely.

Posted from CellarTracker

Never run. Swim instead.

______________________________
I'm sorry you are in pain, Otto, but did want you to know that I sincerely appreciate your recommendation for a good sherry on the WLDG chat this afternoon. Take it easy and do allow that ankle to heal. There are definitely worse ways to spend an afternoon than kicking back with a lovely glass of wine

[James Roscoe]

Otto
I hope you elevated your ankle whilst you had glass in hand! Maybe an open mike on rioja beckons...
regards
Ian

Bob Parsons, are you listening? I think this would be fun too. I have had a misserable wekend winewise wnd some rioja might be just the ticket, despite the grumblings of a certain Latin Liquidator. Great call Ian! If next weekend is taken, let's get it in the rotation.

Otto, great note. I'm sorry to hear about the injury. Obviosly this wine is pre-modern. What is there current style? Have they gone over to the dark side? I am always nervous about Spanish wines as the ones that I can get are all too spoofed. I wish I could have tasted this one with you. Sounds like it was delish and could have used a nice hunk of grilled meat to go with it. Stay off that leg until it is healed. In your spare time do some bojo tastings and write up the notes. I keep telling my wife their are no calories in wine as wine is from heaven and nothing from heaven has calories in it. You think she'll buy it? Me either. Be good to yourself and get better.

Hey what yeah me, Bob P here!! Was up north checking on the dogs today. Lovely weather here right now but can see the dog team out once we get some snow!!

Rioja, sure. Mind you, have so much Spain right now. Been buying into some of the new stuff. Am still thinking Riesling for a couple of days though but lets do it. Who is gonna call? Come to think of it, local store has a Spain/Portugal tasting this wednesday. Should be interesting, then a brown bagger for Mishy on Thursday!! Ruth will be there but Bob McD is away.
The cab thread seems to be on the back burner right now but still lots of time eh.

Obviosly this wine is pre-modern. What is there current style? Have they gone over to the dark side?

The quality was not worth bothering with through most of the 90's. Not that the wines were bad, but just not worth the effort. They came out with a modern cuvee (i.e. heavy bottle) called Dalmau which I feel they spent most of there efforts on. I think they also make (made) a QPR under another label for around $10 which was pretty good, though I can't find it on the website.

Apparently, they've returned to form (or so we've been told) with some of the recent releases of the Gran Reserva (98 Ygay Gran Reserva) but I haven't had one yet. Let's hope...

Best,
Joe

I've found a lot of variability in the '89, with VA levels ranging from medium-high to intolerable. But liked my last one.

[James Roscoe]

Thanks for the info Joe. I was hoping you might pipe in. I haven't seen much of Manuel lately. I hope everything is okay. I assume he is off doing research.

I had an e-mail from him last week. I think he's probably scooting back and forth to Santa Domingo.

[James Roscoe]

Thanks for that too. He's one of the good guys.

Otto
I hope you elevated your ankle whilst you had glass in hand! Maybe an open mike on rioja beckons...
regards
Ian

Yes: cold, rest and elevation are always applied during injury. No more open Mikes please as there are the Teroldego and Lombardy ones that I've sort of thought of doing with ... you know who ... Bob. I've got a couple tastings coming up next week so I can't take up one more OM. Sorry. Besides, I have no more Riojas after this one.

-O-

Guess what I found this afternoon as I was picking up my $38 Prosecco!! A Teroldego from Montevina, Calif.

[James Roscoe]

Guess what I found this afternoon as I was picking up my $38 Prosecco (yup 38), a Teroldego from Montevina!!!! Staff at store says it rocks!!!!

Thirty-Eight bucks for Prosecco!?!?!?!?! Even in Canadian money that's $20 too much. What makes it so special? Was it blessed by the Pope? (He's German you know.) Where the grapes hand-picked by beautiful, naked, buxom virgins during the full moon of the fall equinox? (If so are there pictures?) What gives Bob? I like Prosecco as much as the next guy, but for $38 I'm buying Champagne.

Guess what I found this afternoon as I was picking up my $38 Prosecco (yup 38), a Teroldego from Montevina!!!! Staff at store says it rocks!!!!

Thirty-Eight bucks for Prosecco!?!?!?!?! Even in Canadian money that's $20 too much. What makes it so special? Was it blessed by the Pope? (He's German you know.) Where the grapes hand-picked by beautiful, naked, buxom virgins during the full moon of the fall equinox? (If so are there pictures?) What gives Bob? I like Prosecco as much as the next guy, but for $38 I'm buying Champagne.

Thats basically what I heard as I slapped the $38 bottle down on the kitchen counter top!! Should have removed the price sticker!!!