Apple, lemon, apricot, melon and blood orange. Racy acidity and bold minerality. — 4 months ago
One of my all-time favourites. — 8 months ago
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. — a month ago
Enjoyed this bottle on NYE. did not disappoint. Interesting subtle tangerine tastes lingered on the tongue that I’d forgotten about. This one n/v was bottled in early 2022. Been in my possession about 2 years. — 5 months ago
The sleeper vintage, one at this time I bet to be even more showy than the illustrious 2000. It’s simply just ready to go after a short decant wafting from the glass with layers of cassis, black truffle, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture and elegance, as Margaux should be—It’s liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins and a black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Superb showing tonight, with still a long life ahead. — 9 months ago
This is amazing! — 2 months ago
This was the Rosé of the Cremant. It’s got plenty of apricot and other stone fruit on the nose and in the mouth. Complex and interesting. Beautiful in the glass. A great sparkling wine at a good price. — 4 months ago
Enjoyed this ultra full bodied Cab with nice steak. Let this bottle breathe a good 4-5 hours before serving. And then decanter. It was worth the wait. — 7 months ago
So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).
The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.
The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.
The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 9 months ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim
The nose is still tight with red fruits and light oak notes.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, black cherries, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, earth, herbs and black pepper.
Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced, with an Italian feel. Complex and entertaining.
Still young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with a big piece of steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 19 months in (65% new) French Oak barrels.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$115. — a day ago