Bodegas Faustino
Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend
La Rioja, Spain
Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680.
Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680.
Oct 17th, 2023
Beautifully aged. Love.
Beautifully aged. Love.
Oct 17th, 2022
Consistently good wine, regardless of the vintage. Sure, some years you get better value (11 year old wine available this year vs 14 year old wine last), but it’s still $32, even after all these years.
Complex. Leather. Tobacco. Oak. Some dark fruit.
Give this some time to open up and *chefs kiss*
Consistently good wine, regardless of the vintage. Sure, some years you get better value (11 year old wine available this year vs 14 year old wine last), but it’s still $32, even after all these years.
Complex. Leather. Tobacco. Oak. Some dark fruit.
Give this some time to open up and *chefs kiss*
2004... good year for the Greeks. The Spanish? not as fortunate.
But this. Well aged. Well balanced.
Tobacco. Leather.
2004... good year for the Greeks. The Spanish? not as fortunate.
But this. Well aged. Well balanced.
Tobacco. Leather.
#AgedWineTuesday
A beautiful color of ruby with a wide brick rim.
Light and gentle nose of blueberries, black cherries, black currants, light oak, Indian spices, cinnamon, light licorice, coffee, light vinaigrette, curry and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, light cedar, vegetables, coffee, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea, peppercorn, vinaigrette and earth.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 14 year old is drinking very nicely now, although not from the best vintage.
Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose, but pretty good right out of the bottle too.
This Gran Reserva is always enjoyable. A nice wine to have by itself or with food, and especially great with fatty cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$28.
#AgedWineTuesday
A beautiful color of ruby with a wide brick rim.
Light and gentle nose of blueberries, black cherries, black currants, light oak, Indian spices, cinnamon, light licorice, coffee, light vinaigrette, curry and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, light cedar, vegetables, coffee, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea, peppercorn, vinaigrette and earth.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 14 year old is drinking very nicely now, although not from the best vintage.
Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose, but pretty good right out of the bottle too.
This Gran Reserva is always enjoyable. A nice wine to have by itself or with food, and especially great with fatty cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$28.
Amazing aromas of candied berry crumble, undergrowth, vanilla, dried plum, and a hint of leather. On the tongue its full or flavours with balanced dark berries, tobacco and cassis dominating. The unique austere and grippy texture signifies a cold vintage year. 9.0 /4.1
Aging: typical of a gran rioja, this spends 26m in oak barrels. 3 years in bottle. Drinking 12 years post vintage in 2020. Drink now through 2024. Decant for 1 hr before drinking (taste in segments of 30 min to judge how its opening up)
Amazing aromas of candied berry crumble, undergrowth, vanilla, dried plum, and a hint of leather. On the tongue its full or flavours with balanced dark berries, tobacco and cassis dominating. The unique austere and grippy texture signifies a cold vintage year. 9.0 /4.1
Aging: typical of a gran rioja, this spends 26m in oak barrels. 3 years in bottle. Drinking 12 years post vintage in 2020. Drink now through 2024. Decant for 1 hr before drinking (taste in segments of 30 min to judge how its opening up)
Nose has dried cherries, sweet spice, fine leather, earth, and cinnamon. Black cherries, leather, some sweet spice that carry along well-integrated tannins. Quite Burgundian in its feel. Really a pleasure with Spanish lamb stew.
Nose has dried cherries, sweet spice, fine leather, earth, and cinnamon. Black cherries, leather, some sweet spice that carry along well-integrated tannins. Quite Burgundian in its feel. Really a pleasure with Spanish lamb stew.
Apr 22nd, 2020
A ridiculous wine to serve by the glass. Great stuff.
A ridiculous wine to serve by the glass. Great stuff.
Apr 28th, 2019Impeccable provenance. Years ahead for this gorgeous wine. Figs, cherries, leather, baking spice, roses, espresso, and black tea leaves.
Impeccable provenance. Years ahead for this gorgeous wine. Figs, cherries, leather, baking spice, roses, espresso, and black tea leaves.
Dec 16th, 2018