Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
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
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. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.
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.
- 1960: Faustino 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.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
Rioja Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Pintxos Lunch
Discover Rioja on a full-day wine tour visiting 3 wineries in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. Taste local wines, explore wine country and enjoy a traditional pintxos lunch.
RIOJA: WINE TOUR WITH THE OWNER OF A WINERY
Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own 1881 winery, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.