Martijn

9.2

Superdry with tons of lime and orangepeel bitter. Fantastic nose too. — 18 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. — a month ago

Galen Hasler

9.2

Super complex light red fruit medium soft tannins. Leather olives — 3 months ago

romo

9.1

Spicy sweet no wood tasty. - at Guille’s — 2 days ago

Kyle B

9.0

Reserved for royalty is right. fantastic. — 2 months ago

with Terry

Jon Ebsworth

9.1

Incredibly fresh and moreish. At Hope Cove House where they know their natural wine and their cooking 👏🏼 — 3 months ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

8.9

2022 Vintage. Rustic red in color, cherry and pepper on the nose. A fairly dry Sangiovese, but after 30 minutes, it opened up nicely. Medium bodied, paired well with spicy sausage and potatoes. — a month ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.3

This is amazing! — a month ago

Lisa

9.1

$25 at total wine — 2 months ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, lemon, apricot, melon and blood orange. Racy acidity and bold minerality. — 4 months ago