2019 Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva ($10.99)
Bodegas Faustino Rivero Ulecia is part of a five-generation winemaking family that started back in 1899.
The winery was founded in 1899 by Olegario Rivero. It operated locally for decades selling bulk wine. Then, in the 1940s, the winery, known as Bodega Rivero, was passed to the third generation: brothers Amador and Faustino Rivero. Faustino and his brother had the intuition that bottled, branded wine was the future. When the family finally purchased their first bottling machine and officially launched their signature label in the late 1960s, they named the winery in honor of Faustino. The name follows the traditional Iberian naming structure, combining paternal and maternal surnames to preserve family lineage: Faustino - The given first name of the pivotal third-generation winemaker. Rivero - The paternal family surname, and Ulecia - The maternal surname introduced into the family line.
To produce this wine, the estate relies on their "soul winemaker," Rodrigo Espinosa. Espinosa used a unique regional blend of 75% Bobal and 25% Tempranillo for this red blend. To achieve the "Reserva" status, he aged the wine for 24 months in medium-toasted French and American oak barrels, followed by bottle aging for a total of 36 months before shipping.
This Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva is medium ruby in color with aromas of red fruit. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of cherry, black cherry and plum. Its tannins and acidity are medium-high, but the oak aging does not add heavy flavors. While good right from the bottle, it could use 30 to 60 minutes in a decanter.
This 2019 Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva from Spain is a tremendous value that makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!