Bodegas Faustino Reserva 2015
Full-bodied red wine crafted in the traditional Rioja style, emphasizing secondary and tertiary complexity from extended oak aging. · Bodegas Faustino, a family-owned winery located in Oyón, Rioja Alavesa, Spain. Founded in 1861, it is one of the most recognized and historic producers in Rioja, holding a massive reputation globally for traditional, high-quality aging styles.
Vintage: 2015, a warm and very dry growing season in Rioja that resulted in balanced, concentrated fruit with ripe tannins and excellent aging potential, officially rated as Very Good by the Rioja Regulatory Council.
Type
Full-bodied red wine crafted in the traditional Rioja style, emphasizing secondary and tertiary complexity from extended oak aging.
Producer
Bodegas Faustino, a family-owned winery located in Oyón, Rioja Alavesa, Spain. Founded in 1861, it is one of the most recognized and historic producers in Rioja, holding a massive reputation globally for traditional, high-quality aging styles.
Country
Spain, a major Old World wine producer with a deep winemaking heritage, strict classification laws, and a vast diversity of native grape varieties, heavily contributing to global wine culture.
Vintage
2015, a warm and very dry growing season in Rioja that resulted in balanced, concentrated fruit with ripe tannins and excellent aging potential, officially rated as Very Good by the Rioja Regulatory Council.
Region & Appellation
Rioja DOCa, Spain, specifically utilizing fruit from the Rioja Alavesa sub-region. Rioja is Spain's most famous and prestigious wine region, holding the top-tier Denominación de Origen Calificada classification.
Grape Varieties
Primarily Tempranillo (around 85-90%), blended with small amounts of Graciano and Mazuelo to add acidity, color, and structural longevity.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby-red core with developing tawny and brick-orange hues at the rim, indicating moderate bottle age and traditional maturation.
Aroma Profile
Complex bouquet featuring dried red berries, sweet tobacco, leather, vanilla, dill, clove, and subtle balsamic undertones typical of classic aged Rioja.
Tasting Notes
A polished and harmonious palate entry leading to a silky mid-palate of dried fruit and warm baking spices, finishing with great length, integrated acidity, and resolved tannins.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by dried cherry, fig, vanilla, coconut, sweet tobacco, leather, and a hint of earthy forest floor, offering a multi-layered and evolving flavor experience.
Body & Texture
Medium to full-bodied with a smooth, velvety, and elegant mouthfeel, showcasing refined concentration and soft, integrated extract.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium to high fresh acidity that lifts the palate, accompanied by fine-grained, mature, and powdery tannins that offer structure without harshness.
Sweetness Level
Dry, with negligible residual sugar, balanced entirely by ripe fruit flavors and soft, warming alcohol.
Alcohol Content
13.5% ABV, a classic moderate alcohol level for traditional Rioja, offering balanced warmth without feeling heavy.
Aging & Oak
Aged for a minimum of 18 months in American and French oak barrels, followed by extensive bottle aging in the cellars before commercial release.
Food Pairings
Ideal with roasted lamb, jamón ibérico, aged Manchego cheese, grilled steak, or traditional Spanish tapas like chorizo and albóndigas.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 16-18°C in a standard Bordeaux or universal wine glass. Decanting for 30 minutes to an hour is recommended to allow the complex aromas to open up.
Price Range
18 to 25 USD, representing exceptional value for a classic, professionally aged Rioja Reserva.
Quality Assessment
Estimated score of 90-92 points (Outstanding value tier), known for exceptional vintage-to-vintage consistency and classic regional typicity.
Production Methods
Traditional destemming and crushing, controlled temperature fermentation in stainless steel vats, followed by manual racking from barrel to barrel during its extensive oak aging.
Terroir
Clay-limestone soils of Rioja Alavesa with a mix of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, providing cool nights and warm days that preserve acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness.
History & Heritage
Founded in 1861 by Eleuterio Martínez Arse, Bodegas Faustino is legendary for its frosted bottles and iconic portrait labels, which feature 17th-century Dutch portraits by painters like Rembrandt and Frans Hals.
Interesting Facts
The distinctive portrait on the label is a reproduction of a famous Rembrandt painting, making Faustino one of the most visually recognizable wine brands in the world.
Cellaring Potential
Ready to drink now but has sufficient structure and acidity to continue evolving gracefully through 2028-2032.
Similar Wines
CVNE Imperial Reserva, Muga Reserva, La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi, and Marques de Riscal Reserva.