# Faustino I Gran Reserva (2011)

- **Producer:** Bodegas Faustino
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo
- **Region:** Rioja, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, black plum, raspberry, black cherry, vanilla, cedar, cloves, coconut, tobacco, dried fruit, earth, leather, wet leaves

## About this wine

Faustino I Gran Reserva 2011 is a distinguished red wine from Bodegas Faustino, a winery with a history dating back to 1861. Located in the Rioja Alavesa sub-region of Spain, this wine is characterized by its consistent quality and its distinctive label featuring a portrait by Rembrandt, making it the world's best-selling Rioja Gran Reserva. The winery, now managed by the fourth generation of the Martinez family, emphasizes patience, releasing wines only when they achieve perfect balance. The 2011 vintage experienced varied weather conditions, with winter rains and a cool spring followed by favorable harvest conditions, necessitating careful grape selection.

## Interesting facts

- The label features a portrait by Rembrandt, a unique artistic signature.
- It's the world's best-selling Rioja Gran Reserva.
- Wines are released only when they achieve perfect balance.
- Bodegas Faustino is one of Rioja's largest vineyard owners.

## Food pairing

The wine's structure, with its polished tannins and medium+ body, stands up well to richer proteins like lamb and beef, with tannins binding to protein. Its savory notes complement earthy flavors in mushroom dishes and herbs like rosemary and thyme.

## Wine making process

Faustino I Gran Reserva 2011 is produced from hand-harvested grapes, primarily Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo, from Bodegas Faustino's vineyards in Rioja Alavesa. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures. The wine then undergoes an extended aging process, typically at least 26 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, followed by a minimum of three years of bottle aging before it is released. This meticulous approach to maturation is a cornerstone of the wine's development.