Faustino V Rioja Reserva 2004 - Asda

The 2004 Riojas are singing...

Faustino V is one of the few wines I remember as a young boy. Highly ubiquitous, it always seemed to turn up in ethnic newsagents throughout the land....I remember seeing the frosted green glass and the old wigged geezer staring into space out of the old school yellow label.

I suspect drinkers of Faustino V already know what to expect stylistically. Faustino is one of the most singular and recognisable wines out there... the bottle and flavour profile are almost as recognisable and distinctive as coca cola.

For those not in the know, it exemplifies a particular 'cigar box' school of Rioja. Cigar box on the nose, cigar box on the palate. Blackcurrant. That's it. Anyway....this 2004 is a bloody good Faustino V - possibly the best Faustino V I have drunk. Utterly superb.

Faustino V Rioja Reserva 2004. 8.5/10 £9.84 Asda

3rd August 2010 drunk a more astringent bottle recently. Still nice, but may be going through a phase, or bottles may vary. I loved this first time out though...