Castillo Ygay 1978 UK

SteveN 70 -

Marquis de Murrieta Castillo Ygay has been considered among the very top Riojas made in a very traditional style. I have not had experience with recent vintages, but their older ones where hard to top, if you like a very traditional Rioja that needs long aging. I have had their 1925, and it still was holding very well a very few years ago. They also made an old style white that often was aged nearly as long as their better known red. It can be outstanding, but may come as a shock to those who have tasted only more modern styles of whites.

Worth is a value judgment that you will have to make. Compared to the prices charged for Vega Sicilia, to say nothing of top Bordeaux or Burgundy, the price does not seem very extreme. I have not seen a review yet for Ygay 78, so a Google search might be in order to see if you can find anything. Some of the more traditional Spanish winemakers have started to make more "modern" wines, but the long time before release for the Ygay 78 likely indicates that it was made in fairly much the old style designed to require long aging.