let's taste: Faustino I Gran Reserva

Faustino is one of Rioja's most inconic producers with over 150 years of grape growing and wine making experience and history. As one of my favourite producers, I look forward to their new vintage release year after year. I tend to pick up two bottles per vintage to drink one immediately and save one to see how the wine evolves with even more bottle aging. I have been lucky enough to taste quite a few vintages dating back to 2006, with their latest vintage, 2015, being released last year. Below I have documented vintage by vintage a brief harvest description and tasting note to help understand what's inside the bottle.

🍷 2006 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered a "Very Good" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2006 growing season consisted of good weather throughout with only a couple minor incidents of Spring hail and Summer drought. Harvest began September 1st and ended on October 27th, producing a moderate harvest ensuring grapes were at their peak ripeness when arriving at the winery.

🍇86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo

👀 Med Garnet with a faded Garnet rim 👃🏼 Dill, leather, sweet tobacco, sweet spices, coconut, dried earth, beet, blackberry, cherry, cranberry, dried flowers, chocolate, and coffee 👄 Blackberry, raspberry, cherry, floral, sweet spice, leather, sweet tobacco, coconut, herbal, chocolate, and dried leaves. 🏠 Med(+) Acidity and Med Body, Alcohol, dusty Tannin, and Length 🛢️ Aged 5 yrs total, 24 months in American (80%) and French (20%) Oak

🍷 2008 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered a "Very Good" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2008 growing season had favorable weather during the important final vegetative cycle. Harvest ended on November 10th, producing moderate yields of high quality grapes.

🍇 Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo

👀 Med(+) Ruby 👃🏼 Blackberry, cherry, cranberry, sweet tobacco, sweet spice, floral, forest floor, leather, fresh herbs, and bitter chocolate. 👄 Ripe blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, floral, sweet tobacco, chocolate, forest floor, sweet spice, herbal, and stemmy 🏠 Med(+) Acidity, Body, Alcohol, and grippy Tannins 🛢️ Aged 5 years total, 24 months in American (80%) and French (20%) Oak, followed by 3 years in Bottle

🍷2010 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered an "Excellent" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2010 growing season was textbook and a historic vintage in Rioja. The favourable climate produced excellent health surroundings with no significant incidents. Harvest took place from September 1st to October 31st and brought moderate yields of high quality grapes.

🍇86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo

👀Med(+) Ruby with a faded Garnet rim 👃Ripe blackberry and raspberry, dried fig, pomegranate, cherry, rose, earth, sweet tobacco, chocolate, baking spice, mushroom, and fruit cake 👄Tart cranberry, cherry, raspberry, and blackberry with a fruit leather finish, earth, sweet spice, slight vegetal, floral stems, and rose petals 🏠Med(+) Acidity, Body, Tannin, and ABV (13.5%) 🛢️Aged for a minimum of 24 months in American and French Oak

🍷2011 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered an "Excellent" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2011 growing season is considered among the top 3 vintages in the last 30 years. Once again excellent vineyard health with no pests or disease, and only some minor drought in specific areas. This vintage produced very low yields, which happen to be the lowest since 2002.

🍇Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo

👀 Deep Ruby 👃👄 Blackberry, baking spice, prune, stemmy, blueberry, sunscreen/coconut, current, raspberry, chocolate, earth, and vanilla 🏠 Med(+) Acidity, Alcohol (13.5%), Tannin, and Body 🛢️Aged for a minimum of 26 months in French and American Oak

🍷2012 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered a "Very Good" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2012 growing season consisted of good canopy and vineyard health with September rains helping bring the grapes to their full ripening and balance potential. They did run into some drought which decreased volume and yields in some areas and caused some uneven ripening and selective harvesting.

🍇86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo 👀Deep Ruby 👃👄Plum, red cherry, savory - dried meat, vanilla, sweet spice - cinnamon, tobacco, cocoa, and roasted herbs. 🏠Med(+) Body, Acidity, ABV (13.5%) and chewy Tannin 🛢️21 Day Fermentation, Malolactic Fermentation in Barrels, and Aged 11 Months in American Oak and 14 Months n French Barrels.

🍷2014 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered a "Good" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2014 growing season had favourable weather with great canopy and vineyard health. Harvest started on August 30th and ended October 30th with adverse weather throughout causing forecasts to only be partially met and lesser quality grapes to be picked to help produce more quantity.

🍇 86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo 👀 Ruby with a slightly faded Garnet rim 👃Tart raspberry and cherry, wet leaves, turned earth, leather, cigar box, sweet spice, red licorice, and herbaceous 👄Dried earth, flower stems, dried herbs, tart red fruit and cranberry, cinnamon, and vanilla 🏠 Med(+) Body, Acidity, Tannin, and ABV (14.1%) 🌱 Oyón Vineyard, chalky soils, 1,476’ elevation, and Sustainability Certified 🛢️Stainless steel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, and aged 24 months in French and American Oak followed by 3 years in Bottle

🍷2015 Faustino I Gran Reserva📍Rioja, Spain

Considered a "Very Good" vintage by the Regulatory Council the 2015 growing season saw good weather and excellent canopy and vineyard health with no pests or disease. To ensure grapes were at their optimal ripeness and balance, Rioja saw their earliest harvest in history which spanned only 4 weeks, instead of their usual 8 weeks, and ended by mid-October.

🍇Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo 👀Deep Ruby 👃👄Leather, herbs, vanilla, sweet spice - cinnamon, plum, prune, blackberry, black cherry, cigar box, and tobacco. 🏠Med(+) Body, Tannin, Alcohol (13.5%), and Acidity with a Long Finish

🛢️Stainless steel fermentation and aged 24 months in French and American Oak followed by 3 years in Bottle