Rioja Alta estate producing estate grown reds and a single vineyard Viura, led by Castillo Ygay.
The producer
Marqués de Murrieta makes Rioja Alta wines from Finca Ygay, with all production coming from estate grown fruit. The range includes the bolder Dalmau, the flagship Castillo Ygay and Capellanía, a single vineyard Viura. Dalmau combines Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano from Canajas, while Castillo Ygay combines Tempranillo and Mazuelo from La Plana. The estate also produces a Reserva red and operates a cellar with separate fermentation areas, concrete tanks and a barrel ageing room.
Known for
Estate grown Rioja with long ageing
Notable facts
Finca Ygay comprises 300 hectares in southern Rioja Alta.
María Vargas leads the vineyard team.
The cellar includes 53 concrete tanks and a 10,000 barrel ageing room.
Castillo de Ygay, the headquarters, was declared a museum in 2019.
The story
From Export To Leadership
At 18, Vicente Dalmau became export manager for Marqués de Murrieta and Pazo de Barrantes. His father died of a heart attack in 1996 at age 47. Vicente, then 26, found himself in charge. The estate had been bought by his father in 1983, when it was neglected, and the Cebrián-Sagarriga family has led Marqués de Murrieta Estates and Wines since that purchase. His export role came before the family succession that placed him in charge of the winery.
From the atlas
Marqués de Murrieta
Marqués de Murrieta makes estate grown Rioja Alta wines from Finca Ygay, with long ageing and single vineyard bottlings led by Castillo Ygay.
At A Glance
Region
Rioja Alta
Estate
Finca Ygay
Main grapes
Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano, Mazuelo and Viura
Signature wine
Castillo Ygay
Defining feature
Estate grown fruit, low yields and limited production
The Producer
Finca Ygay surrounds the winery where Marqués de Murrieta makes all its wines from estate grown fruit. Luciano de Murrieta brought techniques learned in Bordeaux to Rioja and made his first Rioja wine in 1852, intending it to age and travel beyond Spain. He exported that vintage to Mexico and Cuba.
Luciano bought the Castillo Ygay estate in 1872. The Cebrián-Sagarriga family has led Marqués de Murrieta Estates and Wines since 1983. Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga took charge in 1996 at age 26 after his father's death. María Vargas leads the vineyard team today.
Place
Finca Ygay lies in the south of Rioja Alta and surrounds the winery. Castillo de Ygay is the headquarters of Marqués de Murrieta and was declared a museum in 2019.
The estate controls the fruit used for production. Its named vineyard holdings include Capellanía, Canajas and La Plana, each attached to a specific wine in the range.
Wines
The range includes Marqués de Murrieta Reserva, Dalmau, Castillo Ygay and Capellanía. Dalmau is the bolder red expression, built from Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano. Castillo Ygay is the flagship red, blending Tempranillo and Mazuelo.
Capellanía is a single vineyard Viura white from the Capellanía plot. The estate also makes two small production white wines based largely on Viura. The bottles move from a Reserva red to named vineyard wines, with Dalmau and Castillo Ygay carrying distinct red blends and Capellanía providing the white wine address.
In The Glass
Dalmau is fruit forward, with fresh acidity and silky, velvety tannins. A subtle balsamic note runs through the palate, which has breadth and depth.
Castillo Ygay shows black cherry and ripe plum with tea leaf, cedar, Mediterranean herbs and dried flowers. It is deep and harmonious in the mouth, with smooth tannins and the capacity for long ageing.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Dalmau Marqués de Murrieta 2020. It comes from Canajas, a nine hectare single vineyard planted in 1950 at 465 metres. The blend is 82% Tempranillo, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Graciano.
The wine spent 17 months in Allier French oak and 13 months in concrete before bottling. One bottle therefore carries a named plot, three grape varieties and two distinct ageing stages.
Final Word
Marqués de Murrieta joins estate grown Rioja fruit to named vineyards and long ageing. Tempranillo leads the red wines, Viura anchors Capellanía, and Castillo Ygay remains the flagship of the range.