Wine: Faustino I 1998 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Faustino Martínez (Oyón, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.
Winemaking
The wine matured for 28 months in 225-liter barrels (80% American oak from West Virginia, 20% French oak from the Vosges). Bottled in the iconic frosted glass container. Total production of 246,792 bottles (75 cl). It rested for a minimum of 36 months in the winery’s underground cellars prior to its commercial release.
The wine matured for 28 months in 225-liter barrels (80% American oak from West Virginia, 20% French oak from the Vosges). Bottled in the iconic frosted glass container. Total production of 246,792 bottles (75 cl). It rested for a minimum of 36 months in the winery’s underground cellars prior to its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-ruby color of medium depth; dark and opaque with a matte finish,
lacking brilliance. It shows coppery and orange reflections with a
wide, fully tawny rim, conveying a sense of greater age than its years
suggest.
Nose:
Reduced and tightly wound upon opening. Initial notes are dominated by
austere toasted oak, which gradually gives way to red fruits in liqueur,
cocoa powder, old leather, and a very fine vanilla backdrop. It smells
unmistakably like Faustino! It features a curious vegetal and citric
edge of sage, balsam, and orange peel.
Palate:
It maintains an excellent—perhaps even slightly high—acidity that keeps
the ensemble vibrant. The rest is as expected: spices, spirituous
fruits, creamy nuances, fine tannins, and freshness. The consistency of
Bodegas Faustino’s wines is unparalleled in Rioja. There is no such
thing as a "good" or "bad" vintage; they are all as alike as two drops
of water. This is their greatest virtue, and it is only fair to
recognize it.
Commentary
A moderately priced Gran Reserva that remains recognizable and effortless to drink, making no concessions to modern trends or market pressure. This wine has earned a place of honor on supermarket shelves as a benchmark brand. Fifty years later, it continues with the same frosted bottle, the same label, the classic wire mesh, and most importantly, the certainty of what is inside: the exact same wine. Hats off to them!
A moderately priced Gran Reserva that remains recognizable and effortless to drink, making no concessions to modern trends or market pressure. This wine has earned a place of honor on supermarket shelves as a benchmark brand. Fifty years later, it continues with the same frosted bottle, the same label, the classic wire mesh, and most importantly, the certainty of what is inside: the exact same wine. Hats off to them!
Personal Score: 86
Tasting Group Average: 87
Tasting Group Average: 87
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