They also considered 1995 an excellent quality vintage at the Ygay estate, giving wines of extraordinary balance as well as the ability to age well. The 1995 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, a blend of 78% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 6% Garnacha and 1% Graciano matured in American oak barrels for a slightly shorter time, 48 months. It has a moderate 12.8% alcohol with 6.5 grams of acidity and 0.85 grams of volatile acidity. It was bottled in May 2001. This was already bottled by the current team led by winemaker María Vargas. This has more balance than the 1994; it was a better vintage, and the wine is better. The wine is medium-bodied and balanced. It's ripe and has notes of cherries in liqueur, and it's soft and mellow, with integrated acidity.

This is a single-vineyard wine with pedigree. The tint is toward orange, with a brick center. The nose deals intoxicating vanilla, marzipan and sweet leather, while the palate picks up the pace with fruit, density and subtlety. Wonderful texture; drink over next five years. ——M.S.(9/1/2004)—— 91