Faustino I 1982 Gran Reserva

Wine: Faustino I 1982 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Faustino (Oyón, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 15% Mazuelo.
ABV: 12.5%

Winemaking
The wine spent 16 months in concrete vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize. It was subsequently matured for 24 to 30 months in 225-liter barriques (90% American oak, 10% French and Yugoslavian) with an average barrel age of 15 to 16 years. Bottled in the estate's signature frosted glass bottle. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery’s underground cellars (calados) prior to its commercial release. Total production: 120,116 bottles.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Translucent brownish-ruby of medium-low depth. It displays clear copper and orange reflections with a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim that merges seamlessly with the meniscus.

 

Nose: Refined and slightly reductive initially, yet possessing high intensity. The bouquet opens with notes of cola candy, cherries in liqueur, orange marmalade, and rosemary honey, layered over a spiced background of vanilla and nutmeg. It is rich in noble wood and roasted nuances, such as raw cocoa. Mature and enveloping, it reveals aromatic herbs and a Mediterranean character unusual for this Gran Reserva. With aeration, it gains classic Rioja tertiary expression: saddle leather, wet fur, Virginia pipe tobacco, and cigar box.

 

Palate: Soft entry underpinned by a vibrant, spicy acidity and remarkable nerve. This is one of the most vivid Faustino bottlings in recent memory. The palate is defined by abundant vanilla, noble oak, and supple leather, balanced by creamy textures and jammy red fruit in liqueur. The tannins are fully resolved and melted. While it retains the winery’s traditional signature, it possesses an atypical vigor and energy. A quintessential example of the most classic Rioja style imaginable.

 

Personal Score: 89
Tasting Group Score: 90