TN: 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, Rioja)

WINE TALK
1

Tried this one for the first time the other night:

  • 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (11/2/2014)
    When I first opened the wine I almost wrote it off. It just didn’t show much outside of some oak that was obvious on the nose and palate. However, after about 60 minutes of being open it morphed a bit to reveal a leaner side with more acid, tart cherry and earth tones. It’s certainly loaded with fruit that seems primary right now. Perhaps a bit simple, or it’s just young, and needs time. Will wait and see on the others.

Posted from CellarTracker

2

This was severely overrated by decanter…for me a 90-91 point wine…if u want the real deal Faustino gran reserva, try the '99…I think it wipes the floor with the '01

3

I tend to agree - WAY overrated. The '01 Tondonia is superior to this wine by quite a margin. Maybe time will be friendlier to the Faustino because it has more tannins and bolder flavors to wade through - but Tondonia’s excellent right now and I can’t imagine it really “going bad” from here on out.

4

This is what I’ve heard.
I don’t drink much Rioja, mostly older LDH that I’ve acquired.
This was decent, and I won’t complain at $30, but nothing too special right now.

5

Not a ‘great’ Rioja, but this vintage is a pleasing wine at a very fair price. A happy scenario in my book, but yes there was some misleading oversell of quality (vs. QPR) in the grand accolade it won.