Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680.
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Rusty translucent red. Spicy nose of rose and raspberry. Medium bodied, aged strawberries, cranberries, grimy tannins, dried herbs, and a peppery, medium length finish. There's more dirt in here than I expected.
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Mature Rioja tasting: made from a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo grapes. This wine has been aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels and an additional three years in the bottle before release.
On the nose, aromas of ripe red and black fruits, such as cherry and blackberry, as well as notes of vanilla, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, full-bodied and complex, with flavors of dark fruit, oak, and a hint of spice. The tannins are firm and well-structured, providing a long, smooth finish.
Overall: elegance, complexity, and aging potential. can drink now - suitable for further aging.
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Much better than 2 yrs ago. Tannins have mostly melted, saddle leather is prominent, fruit is in the background but enjoyable. My only gripe is that oak still sticks out a bit. Hopefully the acid (medium to medium low) will be enough to reward a few more yrs of cellaring, so that the oak better integrates. Maybe some tertiaries will emerge? I remember bottles of the 2001 as having lovely tertiaries when aged for 15 yrs or so, and describing it as a classic Rioja that fans of Burgundy would enjoy.
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4 hours in. Bright dArk cherry plum berry fennel , minerals. Oak in the background slight band aid. Solid acidity. This wine has changed immensely in the last nine months. Wine is way more complex than last bottle. Still tastes like its 5 years old. Totally enjoyable. Not the greatest rioja ive had but really solid. Gonna last another 20 yrs. Incredible bfb.
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Second of two bottles. Day 2. Deep garnet. Intense developing aromas and flavours of toasty oak, cola, dark berries, spices. Full body, M+ acidity, XD, medium tannin, medium alcohol (13.5%). Long, citrus-y finish. VG-excellent quality. Can drink now but has potential for aging.
Comparing to bottle one, how has this evolved over the past three years? The colour has started to brown, there is now a little sediment, and the oak seems to be integrating a bit. But, inexplicably, the body is a tad more full, acids are certainly a bit higher, and tannins are maybe a little more firm? Possibly bottle variation, or my reference point for assessing wines has changed (as I completed WSET 3), or maybe the rainstorm today is affecting my palate. Regardless, this wine is still going strong! And at $28, it was very good RQP at the SAQ in 2019.
Warm berry crumble aromas, a little baked and roasted. Hints of saline. Excellent acidity and gritty ranch character. Roasted. Faustino is often overlooked and underappreciated, but in my opinion it is old-school Rioja. This is begging for some Manchego.
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Trying this Rioja again after about 1.5 years in the cellar; it continues to show top qualities and is staying strong. Medium garnet color. Offers cherry, dark chocolate, mint, licorice, bay leaf an a hint of oak. Graceful and developed, with a satin mouthfeel, and flavors of tart cherry, licorice and bay leaf. Resolved tannins are velvety and provide a scaffold for the wine to shine.
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A good Gran Reserva. All the classical flavors and typical tannin on the end. This is a good reference of what to expect. However on previous vintages of Faustino I, I have seen high variability so realize you may see that from bottle to bottle.
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Correct rioja. Good not great. But what 15 yr old gran reserva can you buy for $28? Tastes like its 5 years old. An hour in and wine is getting more complex. Crunchy red fruit , cherry, medium tannin. This wine should be bought by the case and drunk on a tuesday night with pizza every few years over the next 20 years.
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Decant for 3 hours. At one and two hours, the wine was still very tangy and tart. It smoothed out at 3 hours and was really good after that. Thought it was awful at first.
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This has a lot going on. Tart black fruit, earth, cedar, graphite, Tempranillo spice, all nicely organized. It should last a few years more but perhaps not improve.
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Le nez est étonnamment assez discret. Des arômes secondaires commence à poindre (cuir, épices) à travers le fruit bleu. Parfaite cohérence en bouche avec un ajout de notes terreuses. Fondu et bel équilibre entre le fruit et les tanins. La touche de bois ressort en fin de bouche. Rendu jeune adulte... dans son évolution. Encore du chemin devant!
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I enjoyed this more than last time due to serving it at a cooler temperature. At cellar temperature it shows as more vibrant and brighter. At room temperature it showed as flabby and non-descript.
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Colour is garnet. Nose suggests some oak as well as dark berries. Palate is a bit lean, with an acceptable mid palate and a dry finish. This is a step down from the 2005 which had better ripeness and concentration. It is also not as likely to hold and improve as the 2005 or 2004 of this wine. Furthermore, additional aeration did not improve it, but in fact made it more nondescript. So I would suggest to drink now without any decanting. There is no noticeable sediment.
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Upon opening, with no decant or aeration this showed beautiful depth, complexity, finish, texture and fruit. No food required. In less than an hour it softened and lost a lot of its character. Explains the wide variety of CT reviews. Plan accordingly.
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A little bit puzzled by this. Drinking way younger and more primary than I anticipated. Bears little resemblance with what I remember of the ‘01s I drank a few yrs ago - which displayed delicious tertiaries. Tannins fine and fairly well integrated. Same goes for oak - not too obtrusive anymore. Good enough acidity, but would not mind a tad more to give more freshness. But still no signs - or hints even - of tertiaries. Perhaps these will emerge in 3 or 4 more yrs?
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Needs to open up at least an hour. Quite tannic. Agree with others who say this probably needs food along with it. Overall for being a 14 year old Gran Reserva, I’m a bit disappointed. But pricing is probably about right, at $30 or so.
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Medium to light ruby color. Offers dark cherry, red plum, cigar box, vanilla, leather and dried leaves. Elegant and seductive, with silky texture and red fruit on entry, vanilla and tobacco in the mid-palate and a lingering peppery finish, and a backbone of polished tannins.
A food wine for sure. I found a little dull and vegetal with too much green tannin which surprised me for a 14 year old wine. Going to drink my other bottle soon for comparison since people suggest there is a lot of bottle variation
That said, this disappeared quickly and overall was enjoyable
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Quite a bit of wood and acid as one might expect made this wine harsh and charmless its own. However, with food ( lamb shanks) this wine snapped into balance providing cut to the richness of the meat. Fruit and secondary nuances sang and I was unhappy to see how quickly this bottle got finished. I would happily drink another bottle with a similarly rich meat dish. Not really sure how to offer a rating of overall quality
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Appearance: medium+ ruby, light staining, medium tearing, essentially no rim variation (not showing much signs of age), no sediment.
Nose: clean, medium intensity, developing, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackberry, orange peel, vanilla, pie crust, charred wood, toasted coconut, dill, sweet tobacco, brandied cherry.
Palate: dry, medium+ acid, medium tannin, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), medium+ body, medium intensity, medium finish, tad bitterness, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackberry, orange peel, vanilla, pie crust, charred wood, toasted coconut, sweet tobacco, dried sour cherry.
Overall: My first Faustino and I must say that I'm not overly impressed. It's a decently made wine built on fruit and oak, but the complexity is lacking, especially considering the age. The oak feels just a little bit intrusive and sweet; though the acid is high enough for savory food pairings. It's not a bad wine by any means, but not something I'll seek out again.
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95 points from Decanter? What a joke. This bottle was simple table supermarket wine. However, many commentators are mentioning bottle variation and I have noticed the same thing with prior “highly rated” vintages.
My feeling is that Faustino is a fraud. They bottle a few better lots separately that they send to reviewers for big scores while most of the wine they produce is from lesser juice that they can easily sell with the “big” score.
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Gave 30m air to this blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. It's aged for 26 months and shipped in an opaque bottle to prevent damage from light.
Shimmering medium ruby color. Offers dusty aromas of cherry, plum, leather, oak, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. This Gran Reserva is elegant and seductive, medium-bodied, with vibrant red fruit flavors and a spicy lift. Polished tannins add backbone. Really lovely and in a window for drinking right now.
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First really good bottle. Round ripe mature fruit - classic Tempranillo (with Cabernet overtones). Sweet and sour in the background. Very good vegetal finish. Not dominated by oak or tannin/acid. Excellent Rioja. There seems to be some significant bottle variation based on my sampling so far. This was the best bottle of three. Good now, for the next 3-5 years also.
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2006 Faustino I Gran Reserva was forward and showed great typicity of Rioja Alavesa. The Tempranillo-based Rioja was clear and medium ruby in colour. While I generally do not mind some sediments in my last glass. the opaque bottle made me a bit nervous about the possibility of a load of deposit. To my surprise, there was not a trace of sediment despite its age.
Freshly uncorked, there were nose of fresh red cherries and blackberries, followed by intense American oak signatures of dill, mint and butterscotch. With two hours in bottle, subtleties of earth and leather developed. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-full-bodied, balanced with medium-high level of fresh acidity and medium level of chalky tannin. There were flavours of forest floor, raspberry, liqourice and coconut in the rather long spicy finish.
I generally appreciate wine with a sense of place, and Faustino I screams Rioja with the over-the-top American oak artifacts. Having said that, I actually preferred the lesser known 2004 Piérola Gran Reserva recently posted to this 2006 Faustino I Gran Reserva, as Piérola showed more restraint, earthy complexities and tannin integration.
Faustino I was a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, aged in American and French oak barrels for 26 months. The iconic patented opaque bottle was meant to protect the wine from light. As many as 236,880 bottles were produced in the 2006 vintage.
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Didn’t need any decanting. Juicy red fruits. Plum cherry. Minerals. Great acidity. Oak not nearly as prevalent as I thought I would be. Should age well for a long time. Delicious. Great value.
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The Faustino I is a dependable good value go-to Rioja. However, there seems to be a discrepancy with the wine's promotion on its foil cap, which claims the wine received a 95 from Decanter magazine. As far as I can discover, as a Decanter subscriber, this particular 2006 Faustino I received a 90 point rating. The 95 point rating was for their 2014 Faustino I Icon Edition. ********* I stand corrected thanks to a more diligent CT investigator. Many thanks! The wine DID in fact receive a 95 & Gold @ the ’18 Decanter World Wine Awards. I have adjusted my score accordingly. I shall continue to enjoy Faustino I carefree!!
Ripe red and dark fruit flavors - mostly plum and black cherry. Vanilla, coconut, dill (dill was especially prominant on the nose of this wine). Medium+ bodied with medium tannins and a nice intensity of both flavors and aromas.
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Full garnet core with a dusty rose rim. Medium opaque. Initial nose is raspberry and vanilla, light cola, some cassis and rose hip jelly. Very smooth, as expected, dry and tart in the mouth. Medium-light bodied. Flavours of raspberry, vanilla, cola and just a touch of cedar. Very similar flavours as scents on the nose. The finish is a touch short and cola-tinged. A pleasant, if a touch simple, wine.
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P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which slowly, fairly seamlessly, transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a lovely tangy/swtness to the relatively unoffensive dusty tannins. Nicely done for now with food, & should drink well for 4, perhaps 5, yrs more. My EXC-/EXC; [This vendor's $26.95 is as good as ANY of wine-searcher's currently somewhat limited offerings.]
Note: A better showing than when 1st tasted on 11/09/19.
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Just a good wine, I didn't think it was special, seemed a bit flat. I couldn't tell it's 14 years old by color, taste or bouquet. It's possible it's in an awkward period at this time, perhaps it could evolve even a bit longer. Had it head to head with a Gabbiano Riserva 2015 and I liked the chianti a bit more for its vibrancy.
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Vanilla and earth on the nose, just a touch of richer fruit than expected. Very woody on the nose but there it is. I wouldn't say clean on the palate - medicinal, mint, and other earthy stuff, but also straight ahead and not veering off off into super savory or walnut.
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P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt offset by a SMIDGIN of astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, *poss* very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a bit of tangy/swtness to the virtually negligible, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '21. My VG+/EXC-, & for me a relative disappointment vis-a-vis their '05. :( [This vendor's $26.95 is as good as ANY of wine-searcher's currently limited offerings.]
Addendum: For whatever reason, this showed better when retasted 12/28/2019.
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Medium intensity on the nose: ripe black cherry, ripe raspberry, more red fruits than black fruits (but still both), vanilla, cedar, coconut, sandalwood, herbs (dill?). Very fruit-forward, with the influence of oak not at all obtrusive. Medium body, medium tannins, medium+ acidity and medium+ length on the palate. A juicy, slightly rustic wine. I wish there had been greater concentration/extraction, the wine tastes a little dilute and light, but that may just be the winemaking style Ready to drink now, but still quite young, can benefit from many years of further ageing to develop the tertiary notes - which I think will emerge very very slowly over time (this view was formed in part because I left half the bottle in the fridge with just the cork on, and 10 days later, the wine had improved in complexity)
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Bottle 228,950. Medium body, bright ruby color. Intense ripe fruits, biscuits and tobacco aroma. Ripened black cherry, plum palate and spicy but juicy finish. Rich and complex, velvety texture, well balanced, nice acidity but already loses freshness, completely integrated tannins. Food friendly, best match is carpaccio or not dominant cheeses. Open about one hour ahead. Serve 16º - 18º. Past its peak, drink up during couple years.
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First of two bottles. Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby, clear (no sediment in glass or bottle). Aromas of raisins, vanilla, pastry, dill. Dark fruits, black cherries, spice, and oak on the palate. M+ body, m(-) acidity, XD, m- tannin. Long finish. Enjoyable now and over the next five years. With Karim and Maria.
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Spanish wines tasting (at my home): medium ruby medium aromas intensity of dry red cherries, red cranberries, red sour plums, raspberries, earth, forest floor; developing; dry, med(+) acidity, med(-) tannins, med abv, med body; med flavours intensity consistent with the aromas; basic complexity; lingering finish; can drink now - suitable for further aging;
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This wine has a dark purple color. On the nose, I perceive pepper and vanilla. All in it’s very nice. On the palate tannins are well integrated. It has a taste of plum and black cherry. It is not as successful as the 1970, the 1994 or the 2005 but still excellent. Drink now or within 2 years. ⠀⠀ Ce vin a une robe violette foncée. Au nez, je perçois du poivre et la vanille. Somme toute c’est très agréable. En bouche les tannins sont bien intégrés. Il a un gout de prune et de cerise noir. Il n’est pas aussi réussi que le 1970, le 1994 ou le 2005 mais tout de même excellent. À boire maintenant ou d’ici 2 ans.
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Takes an hour or so to open up, black plums, blackcurrants, vanilla and clove. Well integrated and and in a good place right now. A pleasure to drink. Drink over the next few years.
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Solid. Very sweet cherry and cheesecake in the nose with good amounts of vanilla and oak treatment but for God’s sake people, this is rioja and this is Spain! Rather light to medium bodied on more morello cherry notes with a very acidity and chunky tannins that indicate more bottle time is needed. I’ve had the 1964 and the 1970(phenomenal) and the 1994 and 2005 vintages which admittedly were all superior to this vintage but nevertheless it still remains a very good vintage at a good price of $28 at the SAQ. Long finish. Will develop nicely in the next 5-7 years.
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I let this wine decant for over an hour & when poured showed a plum, brownish red with slow to long legs. To the nose & mouth cherry, plum and oak were very noticeable. The body is light with a satin-like texture. An absolute delight I would highly recommend this wine.
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Pas mauvais, mais pas mon style. Le bois est trop présent à mon goût et le fruit est masqué par le boisé et vanillé. À prendre avec de la viande au BBQ et des gens qui aiment les gros vins lourds.
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This wine had a very low intensity in color and was quite faint in the nose. Hints of leather and cigar box.
On the palate this wine was very sour. The acidity in the wine was very dominant.
The second day, the acidity dropped a little bit and the wine was a little bit more enjoyable. I now also had some other aroma's like cherry and spices, but the wine was still not balanced.
This is the first time I tried this wine, so I don't know if this wine was flawed or not. Therefore I will not rate it.
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Less impressive than the 2005, however still a very good Gran Reserva for the price. If you like this style then this has everything going for it. Notes of bruised cherries, liquorice, vanilla, nutmeg and all spice. Has potential to further age for another 3-4 years.
Violacé. Nez prononcé de chêne Américain (une caractéristique qui était omniprésente des vins espagnols d'il y a 25 ans…). Malgré une attaque d'une certaine verdeur, due à un bois pas encore intégré, le vin charme par ses arômes floraux et de mignardises. L'acidité limitée du vin accentue le coté confit du tempranillo et la texture onctueuse de l'ensemble.
Ce faustino 1 n'a peut-être pas une grande profondeur, mais le tout est quand même charmant, et même, presque racoleur.
Globalement meilleur que le 2005.
À 237000 fioles (si mon souvenir est bon) , on est évidemment dans la production de haut volume et on l'aimerait 10% moins cher. Malgré tout, il faut reconnaître qu'il s'agit d'une bien meilleure affaire que la grosse concoction sucrée Italienne(près de 10g/L) à grand volume, et qui se vend à peu près au même prix à la SAQ (Devinez!).
(**1/2+)
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Acheté pour compléter ma caisse de 12 à la SAQ Dépot...il y a des tonnes de copies de ce vin (partout, beaucoup encore en entrepot et surtout dans les dépôts et il vient d'arriver)! Sur la chauffe et le bois, pour amateur de vin costaud et joufflu, voir un peu surfait avec peu d'acidité. Pas vraiment complexe et assez in your face. Faudra l'attendre...longtemps et même à ça pas certain...pas pour moi, ça c'est certain...on stock de beaux bojo et des Languedoc dans cette palette de prix!
Ce Gran Reserva du millésime 2006 vient d'arriver dans les succursales de la SAQ. C'est un vin mature aux belles notes de café. Le boisé est fin, floral et agréable comme savent le faire les producteurs espagnols. La texture est fine, presque élégante, racée, souple, vivace. Ce qui donne un vin plaisant à boire. Le vin est tonique. Cette bouteille contient un vin plutôt mature. Il faut faire attention avec le Faustino I car j'ai constaté souvent par le passé une grande variabilité d'une bouteille à l'autre. Comme on dit, il n'y a pas de grand vin, mais seulement de grandes bouteilles. Celle-ci est assez grande et fort plaisante pour le prix. Il aurait fait 25 mois en futs, 80% des futs de chêne américains de la Virginie de l’Ouest et 20% dans des futs de chêne français des Vosges et un affinage en bouteille d’un minimum de 36 mois. Tempranillo 92% , Graciano 8%. Certaines années, il peut contenir aussi un peu de mazuelo (carignan). Selon les gouts, servir plus ou moins frais frais. Je l'ai préféré à 16 degrés ce qui accentue son fruité; à 14 Celsius, les tanins sont aussi amplifiés. Il pourrait peut-être faire encore quelques années de cave. Sucre 1,9 g/l. Alc. 13,5 %. Appellation Rioja. Prix: 28,45 $ à la SAQ | 16 € en Espagne. Aussi -15 % dans les SAQ-Dépôts. (https://vinquebec.com/node/15053)
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Usual garnet deep violet colour. Nose is fruity and "warm" (alcoholic). Somewhat tannic in mouth (medium bodied and of medium length). Not the most exciting wine I have had from Faustino. IT is hard to rate this one. I put it as Neutral (although I could admit to liking it) and it could be anywhere between 82-86 (so the number rating is a little high). I CoreVin a glass will try again in a fe weeks and see if my impressions change.
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Garnet. Full bodied and well balanced, long, but versatile with food. Cherry and mineral water nose. Great weight with a refined silky palate. Cherry and vanilla well integrated.
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10/16/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680.
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8/8/2023 - merryberry wrote: 87 Points
Rusty translucent red. Spicy nose of rose and raspberry. Medium bodied, aged strawberries, cranberries, grimy tannins, dried herbs, and a peppery, medium length finish. There's more dirt in here than I expected.
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4/20/2023 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
Mature Rioja tasting: made from a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo grapes. This wine has been aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels and an additional three years in the bottle before release.
On the nose, aromas of ripe red and black fruits, such as cherry and blackberry, as well as notes of vanilla, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, full-bodied and complex, with flavors of dark fruit, oak, and a hint of spice. The tannins are firm and well-structured, providing a long, smooth finish.
Overall: elegance, complexity, and aging potential.
can drink now - suitable for further aging.
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12/24/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 90 Points
Much better than 2 yrs ago. Tannins have mostly melted, saddle leather is prominent, fruit is in the background but enjoyable. My only gripe is that oak still sticks out a bit. Hopefully the acid (medium to medium low) will be enough to reward a few more yrs of cellaring, so that the oak better integrates. Maybe some tertiaries will emerge? I remember bottles of the 2001 as having lovely tertiaries when aged for 15 yrs or so, and describing it as a classic Rioja that fans of Burgundy would enjoy.
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10/26/2022 - Manuaia Likes this wine: 91 Points
4 hours in. Bright dArk cherry plum berry fennel , minerals. Oak in the background slight band aid. Solid acidity. This wine has changed immensely in the last nine months. Wine is way more complex than last bottle. Still tastes like its 5 years old. Totally enjoyable. Not the greatest rioja ive had but really solid. Gonna last another 20 yrs. Incredible bfb.
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7/24/2022 - Dave Dewar Likes this wine:
Second of two bottles. Day 2. Deep garnet. Intense developing aromas and flavours of toasty oak, cola, dark berries, spices. Full body, M+ acidity, XD, medium tannin, medium alcohol (13.5%). Long, citrus-y finish. VG-excellent quality. Can drink now but has potential for aging.
Comparing to bottle one, how has this evolved over the past three years? The colour has started to brown, there is now a little sediment, and the oak seems to be integrating a bit. But, inexplicably, the body is a tad more full, acids are certainly a bit higher, and tannins are maybe a little more firm? Possibly bottle variation, or my reference point for assessing wines has changed (as I completed WSET 3), or maybe the rainstorm today is affecting my palate. Regardless, this wine is still going strong! And at $28, it was very good RQP at the SAQ in 2019.
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7/17/2022 - bluepeter2020@outlook.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Amazing QPR.. Drinking beautifully now.
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6/20/2022 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Warm berry crumble aromas, a little baked and roasted. Hints of saline. Excellent acidity and gritty ranch character. Roasted. Faustino is often overlooked and underappreciated, but in my opinion it is old-school Rioja. This is begging for some Manchego.
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2/23/2022 - Mountster27 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle was much better than my previous one. Fruit more prominent. Better balance.
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2/12/2022 - daveyk39 wrote: 92 Points
Trying this Rioja again after about 1.5 years in the cellar; it continues to show top qualities and is staying strong. Medium garnet color. Offers cherry, dark chocolate, mint, licorice, bay leaf an a hint of oak. Graceful and developed, with a satin mouthfeel, and flavors of tart cherry, licorice and bay leaf. Resolved tannins are velvety and provide a scaffold for the wine to shine.
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2/4/2022 - wtianseter wrote: 90 Points
A good Gran Reserva. All the classical flavors and typical tannin on the end. This is a good reference of what to expect. However on previous vintages of Faustino I, I have seen high variability so realize you may see that from bottle to bottle.
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2/2/2022 - Manuaia Likes this wine: 88 Points
Correct rioja. Good not great. But what 15 yr old gran reserva can you buy for $28? Tastes like its 5 years old.
An hour in and wine is getting more complex. Crunchy red fruit , cherry, medium tannin. This wine should be bought by the case and drunk on a tuesday night with pizza every few years over the next 20 years.
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1/2/2022 - putter520 wrote: 90 Points
Great value for $30. Still had decent fruit and structure. Great representation of Rioja
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12/23/2021 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
MN Valley Fine Wine Tasting Group Ugly Sweater Event (Edina, MN): This is a weak Gran Reserva with raspberries, earth and twigs. Not real complex and not even as good as the La Rioja Alta Alberdi.
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11/22/2021 - frasoo Likes this wine: 83 Points
This I’ll Faustino held up very well. Medium body, dusty fruit, leather dark berry and plum. Paired well with stuffed flank steak. Nice
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11/10/2021 - Sijan wrote:
Lots of orange oil & woodiness
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10/22/2021 - mariow wrote:
rather light, needs about an hour of air; still some greenish notes; overall ok
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10/3/2021 - klezman wrote:
This was a good bottle after it had about 30 minutes of air. Still surprisingly young, though. This wine really does take a long time to come around.
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9/14/2021 - StefanAkiko wrote: 89 Points
Still young, but a tad disappointing. Somewhat unbalanced with angry acidity.
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9/12/2021 - SPLJEG Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decant for 3 hours. At one and two hours, the wine was still very tangy and tart. It smoothed out at 3 hours and was really good after that. Thought it was awful at first.
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9/3/2021 - df1962 wrote: 93 Points
PnP.
Dusty fig anise tobacco coconut. Deep and elegant. Getting some more. Great big value.
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8/26/2021 - Yagil wrote: 88 Points
see my previous TN
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7/20/2021 - adamanko wrote: 89 Points
Indestructable. Never had a bad bottle. 89.
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5/27/2021 - Doblk wrote: 91 Points
This has a lot going on. Tart black fruit, earth, cedar, graphite, Tempranillo spice, all nicely organized. It should last a few years more but perhaps not improve.
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5/2/2021 - Vatch Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pret a boire, le bois n est plus présent, bien intégré. Oui du chemin devant, mais je crois qu il est a son peak.
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4/24/2021 - Thefatbastard Likes this wine:
Le nez est étonnamment assez discret. Des arômes secondaires commence à poindre (cuir, épices) à travers le fruit bleu. Parfaite cohérence en bouche avec un ajout de notes terreuses. Fondu et bel équilibre entre le fruit et les tanins. La touche de bois ressort en fin de bouche. Rendu jeune adulte... dans son évolution. Encore du chemin devant!
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4/4/2021 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good bottle. Mature fruit, good acidity.
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2/25/2021 - kalissa wrote: 87 Points
I enjoyed this more than last time due to serving it at a cooler temperature. At cellar temperature it shows as more vibrant and brighter. At room temperature it showed as flabby and non-descript.
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1/5/2021 - Mr. Elephant Jr. Jr. the III wrote: 91 Points
Appearance: rust, tints of brown
Aroma: cigar box, cedar,
Taste: smoke, dried blueberry, black licorice, chocolate fondue
Finish: dry
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12/26/2020 - Château de Farmer Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good black fruit, integrated vanilla oak, smooth tannins. Somewhat unremarkable. Good value at discount.
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12/25/2020 - kalissa wrote: 86 Points
Colour is garnet. Nose suggests some oak as well as dark berries. Palate is a bit lean, with an acceptable mid palate and a dry finish. This is a step down from the 2005 which had better ripeness and concentration. It is also not as likely to hold and improve as the 2005 or 2004 of this wine. Furthermore, additional aeration did not improve it, but in fact made it more nondescript. So I would suggest to drink now without any decanting. There is no noticeable sediment.
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12/18/2020 - rbieber168@gmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice balance. A very drinkable wine for the price point.
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12/11/2020 - bbmd10 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Well past prime, little body or fruit.
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12/4/2020 - bbmd10 wrote: 85 Points
Wonderful, complex fruit.
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12/3/2020 - Cellarseller Likes this wine: 90 Points
Upon opening, with no decant or aeration this showed beautiful depth, complexity, finish, texture and fruit. No food required. In less than an hour it softened and lost a lot of its character. Explains the wide variety of CT reviews. Plan accordingly.
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11/30/2020 - bravo.solares wrote: 89 Points
A little bit puzzled by this. Drinking way younger and more primary than I anticipated. Bears little resemblance with what I remember of the ‘01s I drank a few yrs ago - which displayed delicious tertiaries. Tannins fine and fairly well integrated. Same goes for oak - not too obtrusive anymore. Good enough acidity, but would not mind a tad more to give more freshness. But still no signs - or hints even - of tertiaries. Perhaps these will emerge in 3 or 4 more yrs?
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11/25/2020 - bbmd10 wrote: 87 Points
Surprisingly disappointing
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10/30/2020 - progenitive Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs to open up at least an hour. Quite tannic. Agree with others who say this probably needs food along with it. Overall for being a 14 year old Gran Reserva, I’m a bit disappointed. But pricing is probably about right, at $30 or so.
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10/27/2020 - ebruin12 wrote: 87 Points
Too sweet oaky
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10/24/2020 - daveyk39 wrote: 91 Points
Medium to light ruby color. Offers dark cherry, red plum, cigar box, vanilla, leather and dried leaves. Elegant and seductive, with silky texture and red fruit on entry, vanilla and tobacco in the mid-palate and a lingering peppery finish, and a backbone of polished tannins.
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10/21/2020 - Mountster27 wrote: 87 Points
A food wine for sure.
I found a little dull and vegetal with too much green tannin which surprised me for a 14 year old wine. Going to drink my other bottle soon for comparison since people suggest there is a lot of bottle variation
That said, this disappeared quickly and overall was enjoyable
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10/18/2020 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drinking well. Better with food for sure, but has a charm on its own.
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10/13/2020 - mlemaire wrote:
Quite a bit of wood and acid as one might expect made this wine harsh and charmless its own. However, with food ( lamb shanks) this wine snapped into balance providing cut to the richness of the meat. Fruit and secondary nuances sang and I was unhappy to see how quickly this bottle got finished. I would happily drink another bottle with a similarly rich meat dish. Not really sure how to offer a rating of overall quality
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9/26/2020 - bvivio wrote: 88 Points
Appearance: medium+ ruby, light staining, medium tearing, essentially no rim variation (not showing much signs of age), no sediment.
Nose: clean, medium intensity, developing, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackberry, orange peel, vanilla, pie crust, charred wood, toasted coconut, dill, sweet tobacco, brandied cherry.
Palate: dry, medium+ acid, medium tannin, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), medium+ body, medium intensity, medium finish, tad bitterness, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackberry, orange peel, vanilla, pie crust, charred wood, toasted coconut, sweet tobacco, dried sour cherry.
Overall: My first Faustino and I must say that I'm not overly impressed. It's a decently made wine built on fruit and oak, but the complexity is lacking, especially considering the age. The oak feels just a little bit intrusive and sweet; though the acid is high enough for savory food pairings. It's not a bad wine by any means, but not something I'll seek out again.
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9/20/2020 - Vatch Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sérieusement, rien a reprocher à ce vin. Encore un peu jeune, wow pour le prix.
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9/1/2020 - SchlaepDog wrote: 83 Points
95 points from Decanter? What a joke. This bottle was simple table supermarket wine. However, many commentators are mentioning bottle variation and I have noticed the same thing with prior “highly rated” vintages.
My feeling is that Faustino is a fraud. They bottle a few better lots separately that they send to reviewers for big scores while most of the wine they produce is from lesser juice that they can easily sell with the “big” score.
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8/24/2020 - daveyk39 wrote: 91 Points
Gave 30m air to this blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. It's aged for 26 months and shipped in an opaque bottle to prevent damage from light.
Shimmering medium ruby color. Offers dusty aromas of cherry, plum, leather, oak, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. This Gran Reserva is elegant and seductive, medium-bodied, with vibrant red fruit flavors and a spicy lift. Polished tannins add backbone. Really lovely and in a window for drinking right now.
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7/30/2020 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
First really good bottle.
Round ripe mature fruit - classic Tempranillo (with Cabernet overtones). Sweet and sour in the background. Very good vegetal finish. Not dominated by oak or tannin/acid.
Excellent Rioja. There seems to be some significant bottle variation based on my sampling so far. This was the best bottle of three. Good now, for the next 3-5 years also.
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7/29/2020 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 90 Points
2006 Faustino I Gran Reserva was forward and showed great typicity of Rioja Alavesa. The Tempranillo-based Rioja was clear and medium ruby in colour. While I generally do not mind some sediments in my last glass. the opaque bottle made me a bit nervous about the possibility of a load of deposit. To my surprise, there was not a trace of sediment despite its age.
Freshly uncorked, there were nose of fresh red cherries and blackberries, followed by intense American oak signatures of dill, mint and butterscotch. With two hours in bottle, subtleties of earth and leather developed. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-full-bodied, balanced with medium-high level of fresh acidity and medium level of chalky tannin. There were flavours of forest floor, raspberry, liqourice and coconut in the rather long spicy finish.
I generally appreciate wine with a sense of place, and Faustino I screams Rioja with the over-the-top American oak artifacts. Having said that, I actually preferred the lesser known 2004 Piérola Gran Reserva recently posted to this 2006 Faustino I Gran Reserva, as Piérola showed more restraint, earthy complexities and tannin integration.
Faustino I was a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, aged in American and French oak barrels for 26 months. The iconic patented opaque bottle was meant to protect the wine from light. As many as 236,880 bottles were produced in the 2006 vintage.
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7/29/2020 - bluepeter2020@outlook.com wrote:
95 from Decanter magazine in 2018
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7/25/2020 - Manuaia Likes this wine: 90 Points
Didn’t need any decanting. Juicy red fruits. Plum cherry. Minerals. Great acidity. Oak not nearly as prevalent as I thought I would be. Should age well for a long time. Delicious. Great value.
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7/24/2020 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid Rioja.
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7/19/2020 - djarcara wrote: 90 Points
The Faustino I is a dependable good value go-to Rioja. However, there seems to be a discrepancy with the wine's promotion on its foil cap, which claims the wine received a 95 from Decanter magazine. As far as I can discover, as a Decanter subscriber, this particular 2006 Faustino I received a 90 point rating. The 95 point rating was for their 2014 Faustino I Icon Edition. ********* I stand corrected thanks to a more diligent CT investigator. Many thanks! The wine DID in fact receive a 95 & Gold @ the ’18 Decanter World Wine Awards. I have adjusted my score accordingly. I shall continue to enjoy Faustino I carefree!!
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5/31/2020 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ripe red and dark fruit flavors - mostly plum and black cherry. Vanilla, coconut, dill (dill was especially prominant on the nose of this wine). Medium+ bodied with medium tannins and a nice intensity of both flavors and aromas.
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5/30/2020 - Vatch Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tres bon rapport qualité prix. Peut encore vieillir un bon 5 ans et garder son fruit, pas de signe de vieillesse encore
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5/15/2020 - kfrench150 wrote: 90 Points
Full garnet core with a dusty rose rim. Medium opaque. Initial nose is raspberry and vanilla, light cola, some cassis and rose hip jelly. Very smooth, as expected, dry and tart in the mouth. Medium-light bodied. Flavours of raspberry, vanilla, cola and just a touch of cedar. Very similar flavours as scents on the nose. The finish is a touch short and cola-tinged. A pleasant, if a touch simple, wine.
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4/28/2020 - johnh1001 wrote: 91 Points
Just what I want in a rioja. Love the cedar note. Great value.
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3/3/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
There comes more of the musty secondary smell. And then some weight on the mid with backing acidity.
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12/28/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Spanish Reds [ALL @ the least Tempranillo "Blends": 4-Riojas & 2-Castilla y León] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Closed; Vanilla & dill seed atop ripe berries; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which slowly, fairly seamlessly, transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a lovely tangy/swtness to the relatively unoffensive dusty tannins. Nicely done for now with food, & should drink well for 4, perhaps 5, yrs more. My EXC-/EXC; [This vendor's $26.95 is as good as ANY of wine-searcher's currently somewhat limited offerings.]
Note: A better showing than when 1st tasted on 11/09/19.
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11/27/2019 - Double-A wrote: 90 Points
Buttered toast, red berry, and polished wood nose. Big flavours on a delicate, medium-bodied frame. Long, toasty finish.
4/5
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11/22/2019 - tudval Likes this wine: 87 Points
Just a good wine, I didn't think it was special, seemed a bit flat. I couldn't tell it's 14 years old by color, taste or bouquet. It's possible it's in an awkward period at this time, perhaps it could evolve even a bit longer. Had it head to head with a Gabbiano Riserva 2015 and I liked the chianti a bit more for its vibrancy.
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11/18/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Vanilla and earth on the nose, just a touch of richer fruit than expected. Very woody on the nose but there it is. I wouldn't say clean on the palate - medicinal, mint, and other earthy stuff, but also straight ahead and not veering off off into super savory or walnut.
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11/9/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 4 Whites, 9 Reds, & 5 *shared* bottles] from 11/8/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: CHOC with RIPE berries, poss hints of spice?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt offset by a SMIDGIN of astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, *poss* very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a bit of tangy/swtness to the virtually negligible, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '21. My VG+/EXC-, & for me a relative disappointment vis-a-vis their '05. :( [This vendor's $26.95 is as good as ANY of wine-searcher's currently limited offerings.]
Addendum: For whatever reason, this showed better when retasted 12/28/2019.
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11/9/2019 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium intensity on the nose: ripe black cherry, ripe raspberry, more red fruits than black fruits (but still both), vanilla, cedar, coconut, sandalwood, herbs (dill?). Very fruit-forward, with the influence of oak not at all obtrusive.
Medium body, medium tannins, medium+ acidity and medium+ length on the palate. A juicy, slightly rustic wine.
I wish there had been greater concentration/extraction, the wine tastes a little dilute and light, but that may just be the winemaking style
Ready to drink now, but still quite young, can benefit from many years of further ageing to develop the tertiary notes - which I think will emerge very very slowly over time (this view was formed in part because I left half the bottle in the fridge with just the cork on, and 10 days later, the wine had improved in complexity)
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9/21/2019 - vlzat wrote: 90 Points
Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo
Bottle 228,950. Medium body, bright ruby color. Intense ripe fruits, biscuits and tobacco aroma. Ripened black cherry, plum palate and spicy but juicy finish. Rich and complex, velvety texture, well balanced, nice acidity but already loses freshness, completely integrated tannins. Food friendly, best match is carpaccio or not dominant cheeses. Open about one hour ahead. Serve 16º - 18º. Past its peak, drink up during couple years.
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9/14/2019 - Dave Dewar wrote:
First of two bottles. Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby, clear (no sediment in glass or bottle). Aromas of raisins, vanilla, pastry, dill. Dark fruits, black cherries, spice, and oak on the palate. M+ body, m(-) acidity, XD, m- tannin. Long finish. Enjoyable now and over the next five years. With Karim and Maria.
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9/14/2019 - Holadi wrote: 91 Points
Light ruby. Pronounce note with oak and some stewed fruit. Mod acid, low tannins. Very pleasant and light Rioja.
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9/10/2019 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
Spanish wines tasting (at my home): medium ruby
medium aromas intensity of dry red cherries, red cranberries, red sour plums, raspberries, earth, forest floor;
developing;
dry, med(+) acidity, med(-) tannins, med abv, med body; med flavours intensity consistent with the aromas; basic complexity; lingering finish;
can drink now - suitable for further aging;
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8/10/2019 - Baloo452 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine has a dark purple color. On the nose, I perceive pepper and vanilla. All in it’s very nice. On the palate tannins are well integrated. It has a taste of plum and black cherry. It is not as successful as the 1970, the 1994 or the 2005 but still excellent. Drink now or within 2 years.
⠀⠀
Ce vin a une robe violette foncée. Au nez, je perçois du poivre et la vanille. Somme toute c’est très agréable. En bouche les tannins sont bien intégrés. Il a un gout de prune et de cerise noir. Il n’est pas aussi réussi que le 1970, le 1994 ou le 2005 mais tout de même excellent. À boire maintenant ou d’ici 2 ans.
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6/23/2019 - red.red.vino wrote: 91 Points
Takes an hour or so to open up, black plums, blackcurrants, vanilla and clove. Well integrated and and in a good place right now. A pleasure to drink. Drink over the next few years.
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6/17/2019 - Augie1213 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Doftar körsbär och marsipan. Körsbär, vanilj, kort smak. Efter 2h luftning även en tydlig smak av dill.
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6/1/2019 - mimik Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid. Very sweet cherry and cheesecake in the nose with good amounts of vanilla and oak treatment but for God’s sake people, this is rioja and this is Spain! Rather light to medium bodied on more morello cherry notes with a very acidity and chunky tannins that indicate more bottle time is needed. I’ve had the 1964 and the 1970(phenomenal) and the 1994 and 2005 vintages which admittedly were all superior to this vintage but nevertheless it still remains a very good vintage at a good price of $28 at the SAQ. Long finish. Will develop nicely in the next 5-7 years.
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5/2/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Always enjoy this wine, sweet cherries, plums, vanilla, sweet spices, a little chocolate, chewy tannins, finish is round, soft and easy.
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4/21/2019 - Kevin Staveley Likes this wine: 90 Points
I let this wine decant for over an hour & when poured showed a plum, brownish red with slow to long legs. To the nose & mouth cherry, plum and oak were very noticeable. The body is light with a satin-like texture. An absolute delight I would highly recommend this wine.
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4/7/2019 - maxcantin1 wrote: 87 Points
Pas mauvais, mais pas mon style. Le bois est trop présent à mon goût et le fruit est masqué par le boisé et vanillé. À prendre avec de la viande au BBQ et des gens qui aiment les gros vins lourds.
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12/15/2018 - Mr Coone Does not like this wine:
This wine had a very low intensity in color and was quite faint in the nose.
Hints of leather and cigar box.
On the palate this wine was very sour. The acidity in the wine was very dominant.
The second day, the acidity dropped a little bit and the wine was a little bit more enjoyable. I now also had some other aroma's like cherry and spices, but the wine was still not balanced.
This is the first time I tried this wine, so I don't know if this wine was flawed or not. Therefore I will not rate it.
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11/22/2018 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Less impressive than the 2005, however still a very good Gran Reserva for the price. If you like this style then this has everything going for it. Notes of bruised cherries, liquorice, vanilla, nutmeg and all spice. Has potential to further age for another 3-4 years.
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11/16/2018 - bourgogre Likes this wine:
Violacé.
Nez prononcé de chêne Américain (une caractéristique qui était omniprésente des vins espagnols d'il y a 25 ans…).
Malgré une attaque d'une certaine verdeur, due à un bois pas encore intégré, le vin charme par ses arômes floraux et de mignardises.
L'acidité limitée du vin accentue le coté confit du tempranillo et la texture onctueuse de l'ensemble.
Ce faustino 1 n'a peut-être pas une grande profondeur, mais le tout est quand même charmant, et même, presque racoleur.
Globalement meilleur que le 2005.
À 237000 fioles (si mon souvenir est bon) , on est évidemment dans la production de haut volume et on l'aimerait 10% moins cher.
Malgré tout, il faut reconnaître qu'il s'agit d'une bien meilleure affaire que la grosse concoction sucrée Italienne(près de 10g/L) à grand volume,
et qui se vend à peu près au même prix à la SAQ (Devinez!).
(**1/2+)
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10/25/2018 - maxima wrote: 85 Points
Acheté pour compléter ma caisse de 12 à la SAQ Dépot...il y a des tonnes de copies de ce vin
(partout, beaucoup encore en entrepot
et surtout dans les dépôts et il vient d'arriver)!
Sur la chauffe et le bois, pour amateur de vin costaud et joufflu,
voir un peu surfait avec peu d'acidité.
Pas vraiment complexe et assez in your face.
Faudra l'attendre...longtemps et même à ça
pas certain...pas pour moi,
ça c'est certain...on stock de beaux bojo et
des Languedoc dans
cette palette de prix!
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10/12/2018 - Marc André Gagnon wrote: 90 Points
Ce Gran Reserva du millésime 2006 vient d'arriver dans les succursales de la SAQ. C'est un vin mature aux belles notes de café. Le boisé est fin, floral et agréable comme savent le faire les producteurs espagnols.
La texture est fine, presque élégante, racée, souple, vivace. Ce qui donne un vin plaisant à boire. Le vin est tonique. Cette bouteille contient un vin plutôt mature. Il faut faire attention avec le Faustino I car j'ai constaté souvent par le passé une grande variabilité d'une bouteille à l'autre. Comme on dit, il n'y a pas de grand vin, mais seulement de grandes bouteilles. Celle-ci est assez grande et fort plaisante pour le prix.
Il aurait fait 25 mois en futs, 80% des futs de chêne américains de la Virginie de l’Ouest et 20% dans des futs de chêne français des Vosges et un affinage en bouteille d’un minimum de 36 mois.
Tempranillo 92% , Graciano 8%. Certaines années, il peut contenir aussi un peu de mazuelo (carignan).
Selon les gouts, servir plus ou moins frais frais. Je l'ai préféré à 16 degrés ce qui accentue son fruité; à 14 Celsius, les tanins sont aussi amplifiés.
Il pourrait peut-être faire encore quelques années de cave.
Sucre 1,9 g/l. Alc. 13,5 %. Appellation Rioja.
Prix: 28,45 $ à la SAQ | 16 € en Espagne. Aussi -15 % dans les SAQ-Dépôts.
(https://vinquebec.com/node/15053)
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1/31/2018 - RajeshA wrote: 85 Points
Usual garnet deep violet colour. Nose is fruity and "warm" (alcoholic). Somewhat tannic in mouth (medium bodied and of medium length). Not the most exciting wine I have had from Faustino. IT is hard to rate this one. I put it as Neutral (although I could admit to liking it) and it could be anywhere between 82-86 (so the number rating is a little high). I CoreVin a glass will try again in a fe weeks and see if my impressions change.
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8/19/2016 - ProfByron wrote: 89 Points
Good but less exciting than I had hoped. Mild, good drinking now.
13.5% ABV, sealed with cork.
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8/4/2016 - Deadhead wrote: 90 Points
Delicious!
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7/2/2016 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Garnet. Full bodied and well balanced, long, but versatile with food. Cherry and mineral water nose. Great weight with a refined silky palate. Cherry and vanilla well integrated.
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