Grape Varieties
Tempranillo 85%, Graciano 10%, Mazuelo 5%
Winery
Bodegas Faustino trace their roots to 1861 when Eleuterio Martinez Arzox bought a palace and vineyards at Oyon from the Marques de Puerto and founded Bodegas Victorianas. His descendent Julio Faustino Martinez, son of Don Faustino, took over the business in 1955 and founded the Rioja brand Faustino in 1960. Today it is one of the major brands of Rioja sold all over the world and easily the best selling Rioja in Ireland. The company is still family owned and has expanded to include vineyards and winemaking facilities in Navarre, La Mancha and Ribera del Duero.
Winemaker
Rafael Martinez
Viticulture
Faustino own 650 ha of top quality vineyards throughout Rioja in the municipalities of Laguardia, Logrono, Mendavia and Oyon, growing at altitudes of 400-600m. This gives total control over the quality of their vital raw ingredients and allows them to be picked at optimum ripeness by hand and then transported in small baskets, to avoid crushing, to the winery.
Winemaking & Maturation
Fermentation takes place at about 27º C and the skins are left to macerate after fermentation to produce finer tannins with the whole process taking about 27-28 days. Then the wine is aged in oak barrels, 80% of which are American from West Virginia and about 20% from Les Vosges in France for at least 3 years before at least another 3 years ageing in bottle prior to release. It is released ready to be enjoyed and in general the wine is at its peak from about 6 – 15 years after the vintage date but should give pleasure for several years after that.
Tasting Note
Colour: Cherry red with a garnet and tawny rim. Nose: Complex nose of gentle spice vanilla and berry fruits. Palate: Rich with a little tannin but elegant and long.
Food Recommendations
A versatile rich soft red wine that will go well with all sorts of roasts, stews and vegetable dishes
More information
www.bodegasfaustino.com
