The 2011 Faustino VII Rioja scored 16+ Dionysian points out of 20. It has 13% alcohol and cost under $18 back then. It opened for an hour in the glass. Cherry, spices and red fruit pits filled the nose.

Served with Veggie-burgers . It helped highlight all the dish’s flavors.

At a decade old, the wine was perfect. The ’11 was their 150 Anniversary Bottling, and I think they added some of their top-label juice into it. It’s rich fruity Tempranillo. Good for another five to eight years. After a month of mostly old Bordeaux and really old Portuguese wines, I wanted something that suited the coming winter. In Vino Veritas.