93pts James Suckling

Ripe and sweet dark plums, blackberries and blueberries with a hint of dark-spice and cocoa-powder savoriness. A succulent, fine Rioja with fine-grained tannins that spread evenly across the medium-to full-bodied palate. Traditional, but bright and vibrant, showing potential for aging.

Winemaker Notes

Ripe fruit, cedar and clove spice aromas. Rich red and black fruit flavors, compote, cedar and vanilla flavors hints of cinnamon and clove spice. Long, rich finish.

Pairs well with all kinds of meat dishes, mushrooms, ham, medium-aged cheeses and berry desserts.

Blend: 92% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo

Winery Notes

In the mid 1800s, Eleuterio Martinez Arzok took his first steps toward establishing himself as a producer and merchant of wines from the Rioja region of Spain. He started out by selling his wines in the Rioja and Basque regions, direct from the barrel. Much has changed since then and the winery he founded has since become known as one of the premier fine wine producers of the Rioja region.

In the late 1950s, his similarly adventurous descendant, Julio Faustino Martinez, launched the family-owned label in both national and international markets. Today, Bodegas Faustino is Rioja's largest exporter of Gran Reserva wines. The winner of numerous awards and gold medals in international competitions and tastings, Bodegas Faustino is a proud custodian of the Rioja region's growing international reputation as a source of truly world-class fine wines.

With 1600 acres of its own vineyards, Faustino is self-sufficient in producing its Reserva and Gran Reserva wines. The vineyards are located in the upper part of Rioja Alavesa at an altitude of between 1500 and 1800 feet. The climate is cool, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and the vines thrive in the chalky soil. The state-of-the-art Faustino winery has a stock of 45,000 barriques, 80% of which are American oak. The winery maintains a permanent stock of 9 million bottles of Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.