Faustino I Gran Reserva by Bodegas Faustino

Structure

Bodymedium

Tanninmedium

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2012: best 2020 to 2037.

vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
Tim Atkin reviewed 2021	2012	90/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice

Palate: macerated red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury

The internationally famous frosted-bottle Gran Reserva: long-aged, savoury and dried-fruit-led in a classical style, one of the world's best-known Rioja labels.

What it pairs with

Cordero asado al sarmiento Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.More wines for lamb →
Chuleton de buey a la brasa A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Jamon iberico Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.More wines for ham →
Roast partridge Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.More wines for game →

With cheese

Queso Camerano Our pick Two years or more in oak and long bottle ageing make Gran Reserva Rioja mature and complex, medium in tannin and high in acidity; curado Camerano, hard, salty and faintly bitter with wild-herb notes, meets that depth, and the acidity cuts its fat.

How to serve Faustino I Gran Reserva

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Faustino I, in its etched frosted bottle, became one of the most exported Gran Reservas in the world.

1960Faustino I frosted-bottle Gran Reserva established

Facts

Producer: Bodegas Faustino · visiting guide
Grapes: Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (8%), Mazuelo (7%)
Classification: DOCa Rioja
Oak: Around 24 to 30 months in oak, then long bottle ageing
ABV: 13.5%
Price: EUR 18 to 30 at retail
Drinking window: 8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage: 1960

Frequently asked about Faustino I Gran Reserva

What does Faustino I Gran Reserva taste like?

On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice. On the palate, macerated red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The internationally famous frosted-bottle Gran Reserva: long-aged, savoury and dried-fruit-led in a classical style, one of the world's best-known Rioja labels.

When should I drink Faustino I Gran Reserva?

Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Faustino I Gran Reserva?

Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.

Is Faustino I Gran Reserva vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in Faustino I Gran Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (8%), Mazuelo (7%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Bodegas Faustino

Logroño: guided visit + tasting of 3 wines at Viña Ijalba

Starts 4 km awayGuided tour75 minutes4.7 from 56 reviewsfrom €25

Discover Viña Ijalba, a pioneer in organic viticulture in Rioja. Just five minutes from the center, enjoy a tour with a tasting of three premium wines, accompanied by ...

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Rioja: Wine tour with a winery owner

Starts 5 km awayGuided tour7 hours5.0 from 22 reviewsfrom €300

Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own winery from 1881, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.

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