Faustino I 1991 Gran Reserva

Wine: Faustino I 1991 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Faustino Martínez (Oyón, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.

Winemaking:
Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel tanks. The wine matured for 28 months in 225-liter oak barrels (80% American oak from West Virginia and 20% French oak from the Vosges). It was bottled in the winery's signature frosted glass bottle, with a total production of 236,880 units (75 cl). A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the subterranean cellars was required before its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby color with medium-low depth; clear and clean, though lacking intense brilliance. Features a very fine sediment at the base. Matte orange and garnet reflections. Broad brick-orange rim, showing minimal variation from the meniscus.

 

Nose: The quintessential Faustino expression: multifaceted and profoundly classic. Upon opening, it appears somewhat disjointed and uncharacteristic, showing a muddled array of sweet spices, wine-soaked wood, and ripe red fruit with faint stable-like hints. However, it realigns within minutes like a Rubik’s Cube. It unfolds with notes of dried figs, caramelized sugar, coffee beans, and old leather, followed by English tobacco, cinnamon stick, and a powerful, "animal" stable-like backdrop. Elegant and composed, it exudes a pure Rioja perfume from start to finish.

 

Palate: Light and acidic, brimming with reduced red fruit that is spicy, fresh, and cushioned by toasted oak and a profusion of spices. It possesses a false sense of fragility; in reality, it is mature and resilient, closely mirroring the legendary 1973 and 1978 vintages. Although it requires more time in the bottle to fully settle, it already displays remarkable poise and great potential.

 

Commentary:
For devotees of the Faustino style, this 1991 is a definitive benchmark. It manages to exceed the winery's own standards of classicism, offering an alchemical transformation in the glass that rewards a few minutes of patience. A wine of great potential that remains faithful to its roots while promising a long life ahead.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Average: 91