TN 2010 Faustino I Gran Reserva- Ultimate Cellar Defender?

[Lee_Short]

Faustino is not a first-rank producer. That said, they often make good, and even very good wines. The saying is that if Faustino makes a good wine, you know it’s a good vintage. And I’ve had some that were really good, always from good vintages. Vintages like 2006 and 2008 are not vintages that I would look for, nor 1993, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2017. A 2010, on the other hand, isn’t something I’d turn down. The 2001, as mentioned, was quite nice. There are three or four Rioja names that people on this board talk about, but there are a lot more producers that are worth looking at. And compare what you might get for the price from many CA producers.

+1

My favorite producer for near-term drinking is Pecina, though they aren’t as easy to find as many others.

[Stephen_Faulkner]

I love these wines with age and the 2001 Faustino was a beautiful drink in 2021. Have several of the Tondonia/Bosconia but they are almost too lean/austere for my tastes; maybe just need more time?

I’m in the low-rent district, so cellar defenders are well below $30 for me - Alberdi, Louis Canas are favorites; Caceres Reserva is a decent weeknight wine. I just had my last bottle of Elias Moro Crianza 2012 and here is my note: why don’t I have more of this? Dusty cherry nose with deeper cherry fruit/earthy; delicious and fun to drink.

[Ian_Sutton]

I always wonder about the suggestion that a cellar needs “defending.” Besides the fact that it conjures knights, moats, and cannons, really good wines can be found at almost every price point; certainly the $20-25 range. Chidaine Les Choiselle or Arterberry Maresh’s regular bottling come immediately to mind.

I now have visions of forumites imitating Monty Python’s French taunter

For me the concept was a useful one when building up the maturity of my collection. Rather than opening wines way too soon, as I found was consistently happening early on, it is great to have something mature (or already complex and approachable on release). Auction purchases helped serve that purpose, along with a friend who bought / sold wine for a living, but a wine like this would have been a fine choice as well.

[Joshua_Kates]

I always wonder about the suggestion that a cellar needs “defending.” Besides the fact that it conjures knights, moats, and cannons, really good wines can be found at almost every price point; certainly the $20-25 range. Chidaine Les Choiselle or Arterberry Maresh’s regular bottling come immediately to mind.

I now have visions of forumites imitating Monty Python’s French taunter

For me the concept was a useful one when building up the maturity of my collection. Rather than opening wines way too soon, as I found was consistently happening early on, it is great to have something mature (or already complex and approachable on release). Auction purchases helped serve that purpose, along with a friend who bought / sold wine for a living, but a wine like this would have been a fine choice as well.

Makes sense, Ian,
Thanks for the clarification. In the early days, I did a lot of back filling and the wines I could afford were not very pricey in any case (especially compared to current pricing). Like many of us, I’ve begun harvesting the fruits of my labor–quite a few treats, but also some wines that I would not buy now and may never drink. I was flying a little more blind than you–no friends ITB or really that knowledgeable. I learned a lot from this and other boards.
As they say, its the journey, not just the destination.

Cheers!

[Chris_Seiber]

It’s lovely to have a [old school styled] mass market wine that’s released with good maturity already (but typically needs no rush to drink), and at a very reasonable price.

Is it a great Rioja? Hell no, but it’s often a fine bargain, and also offers something that isn’t typically widely available. That’s something I positively applaud.

I’ve only had it a few times, but that is my impression of the wine as well.

I’d add the part in bold and brackets too.

Having said that, there are a lot of good wines from all over at $30, so I don’t think this occupies that unique of a cellar defender spot in the world of wine. That’s no ding on it, there are just a lot of good wines out there.

[Arv_R]

I’m trying to think if there are any other major bodegas left in Rioja to release their 2010 GR’s?

Is LdH the only one left?

[Phil_T_r_o_t_t_e_r]

I’m trying to think if there are any other major bodegas left in Rioja to release their 2010 GR’s?

Is LdH the only one left?

I haven’t seen the 200 Monges hit the shelves yet…