Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

vintage 2001 | Very special | with King Bolete — 17 days ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Rare beef on the immediate nose-- — 5 days ago

Chris MacLean

9.3

Big winner at dinner tonight — a month ago

with Alessandro, Sarah and 2 others

Ryan Kenny

9.5

Soft but good vanilla baking spices. Tannic but not acidic — 23 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Bodegas Faustino – Faustino V Reserva
Tempranillo-based Blend 2018
DOCa Rioja – Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A standout vintage combining freshness, balance, and precision. The 2018 shows the most complete expression among the last two vintages (v16 & v17), harmonizing fruit, oak, and structure beautifully.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh red berries, cherry, subtle vanilla, cedar, and refined spice with a lifted aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, polished tannins, and a beautifully balanced, lingering finish. More energetic and refined than prior vintages.

Food Pairings
Versatile, grilled meats, tapas, roasted vegetables, or even casual pairings.

Verdict
The most complete and balanced of the last two; Fresh, elegant, and structured this is the sweet spot vintage.

Did You Know?
2018 in Rioja is widely regarded as a balanced vintage, offering both freshness and aging potential, often outperforming expectations at this price tier. (I have also reviewed v16 & v17).

🍷 Personal Pick
The winner of the lineup, precision, freshness, and balance all in one. A textbook example of why Rioja Reserva remains one of the best value categories in the world. — 7 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Tasted blind , my wine … after having the other two this was easy ! Medium deep ruby touch of garnet with quite a thin ruby garnet rim . Quite spice tinged nose with , deep cherry , plum and some blackberry . Quite young and reserved , with quite a bit of vanilla , grafite . On the palate this is again quite spiced with dark fruits , plum , cherry, some blackberry , grafite , earthy , coffee touches . Balanced fresh acidity and quite grippy , dry tannins. Good mineral tinged spiced cherry finish . Pretty young still , needs a bit of time but good length and balance. Wait another 5-10 years and will drink well a further 10 . Quite promising. — a month ago

Akshay Venkitasubramanian

9.0

Simple light red - low on minerality with good structure — a month ago

Dave

9.1

Really dark fruit and a splash of mint. To quote Led Zeppelin and the legendary @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego , you gotta whole lotta oak, you gotta whole lotta oak 🎶
Listening to Supersuckers — 6 hours ago

Dave

9.3

Cork broke, but the juice is good. The nose is shy, but the fruit flavors are vibrant. Tart blackberries, prunes, thyme, earthiness, a bit of tobacco bound in new leather. Tannins medium+, acidity medium+. Enjoy it now or enjoy it in 6-8 years. I really didn't want to do 6-7. I'm enjoying it now with a beautifully cooked sirloin, smashed potatoes, goat cheese, and a simple arugula salad. TGIF!
Listening to the new Foo Fighters track — 24 days ago

Cindy Glennon

9.3

NH Liquor store $17. Very enjoyable before & during paella dinner. Would drink again. — 17 days ago