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. An entrepreneurial young man, he started out by selling his wines in the Rioja and Basque regions, direct from the barrel, working from the back of a horse-drawn cart. 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, accounting for more than one third of Gran Reserva wine exports from the Rioja region. The winner of numerous awards and gold medals in international competitions and tastings, Bodegas Faustino is a proud custodian of the Rioja region's international reputation as a source of truly world-class 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.
Winery Notes Clean, bright, cherry red colour developing to maroon. Pleasant on the nose, ripe red fruits touch and sweet barrel hints. Balanced. Elegant and fresh,
Wine Enthusiast 93 WE Top 100 Rank 97 “Classic Rioja aromas of vanilla, spice, tobacco and dried berry fruits carry this wine. On the palate, this
Clean, bright, cherry red color developing to maroon. Pleasant on the nose, ripe red fruits touch and sweet barrel hints. Balanced. Elegant and fresh, fruity
Wine & Spirits 93 "This is the kind of light and fragrant Rioja that makes me smile. It stands out in a crowd of modern, concentrated
Wine Spectator 93 Fresh and lively, this red shows bright fruit and spice flavors, with cherry, berry, vanilla and anise notes that mingle over light tannins
Wine Enthusiast 91 "Reedy red-fruit aromas feature a note of green. This is tannic in feel, with a mix of red-leaning raspberry, currant and strawberry flavors.
"Smoky and gamy notes overlay black cherry fruit in this firm, light red. It's juicy--almost tart--with some pretty spice notes on the finish." ~Wine Spectator
Decanter 97 "A top example of an aged Rioja. Powerful yet elegant with a complex array of flavors. Delicate use of creamy oak and spicy, leathery
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