Rioja tasting with Maria Stevens for Bodegas Faustino

Incredible tasting with the venerable Maria Stevens of Bodegas Faustino.

The entry level wines were mostly plonk but the reservas and gran reservas were really inspiring, especially, the gran reserva vertical.
These wines really earned my appreciation for Rioja, a wine that I often stay clear of. With age, they can really show grace, power and complexity.

• 2011 Faustino Rioja Faustino VII Blanco 80 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Made from 100% viura. Very blousy and thin. Fairly aromatic with quince and spring flowers. Flat with short finish.

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• 2010 Faustino Rioja Faustino VII 84 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Fairly hedonistic. Lots of oak, vanilla and warm currant flavors. A good midweek plonker.

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• 2008 Faustino Rioja Crianza 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Very aromatic with raspberry, cassis and vanilla. Earthy and slightly vegetal as well.

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• 2005 Faustino Rioja Reserva V 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Still quite youthful. Licorice, black cherry, mint, leather, pepper. Quite tannic but softens up after several minutes.

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• 1964 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Very light brownish orange, almost translucent color. Very polished mouthfeel with silky effortless tannins. Velvety with delicate rose petal perfume along with soft raspberry, cherry, vanilla, and toasted nuts. Begins to fade with overzealous swirling. Just pour and sip. Lots of fun to drink this.

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• 1970 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Almost as delicate as the '64 with the same brownish orange color in glass. Offers anise, sweet vermouth, sweet Asian spices, and licorice.

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• 1982 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  My WOTN. Color more deeper in the middle with soft brownish orange edges. Cola, Asian spices, manuka honey, warm red raspberries. Silky mouthfeel with latent power. Class in a glass!

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• 1996 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Extremely young at this stage compared to the other gran reservas. Needs more time - spicy with beef jus, pepper, anise and wild cherry. Should follow the trajectory of the 1970 in the flight.

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Highlights of the night were the 1964 and 1982 gran reservas, the latter being my most favorite.