Faustino I 1985 Gran Reserva

Wine: Faustino I 1985 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Faustino Martínez (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 matured for 24 to 30 months in 225-liter barrels (90% American oak, 10% French and Yugoslavian) with an average age of 15 to 16 years. Bottled in the iconic frosted glass container in November 1989. Aged in the bottle for a minimum of 36 months in the winery’s underground cellars prior to release. Total production: 236,880 bottles (75 cl). 

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Bright, clear reddish-ruby with medium depth; slightly darker than other vintages from the 1980s. It shows reddish and orange highlights. The rim is broad, very clear, and fully tawny (tile-red), contrasting sharply with the core. 

 

Nose: Medium intensity but very well-defined and sharp. It is extraordinarily traditional, staying true to the winery’s Gran Reserva style and showcasing all the classic descriptors: barnyard, leather, Virginia tobacco, candied fruit, and a hint of freshly ground spices. Refined and soft, it develops smoky and lactic nuances as it breathes. Exactly what we expected to find: orderly, precise, and quintessential Faustino.

 

Palate: Round and balanced on the palate, with a strong imprint of seasoned wood and vanilla. Creamy and mature, it is filled with concentrated red fruit—slightly liqueur-like—melted into velvety tannins. Pleasurable, charming, very smooth, and well-settled. It remains lively thanks to adequate acidity. This is a wine for pure enjoyment, without excessive complexity or pretension. It is difficult to recognize the specific vintage—a recurring theme with these Faustino I bottlings. It is a wine that recalls other wines, and ultimately, itself. A Faustino with all the hallmarks of the house: core classicism! 

 

Personal Score: 87
Tasting Group Score: 88