Mr. Reverte comes from a family with eight generations of winemaking experience. His family owns Bodega Reverte in nearby Rioja, where his brother Daniel is the winemaker.
Cistum is a solo project and a highly worthwhile one. The grapes are sourced from a vineyard dating back to 1890. Predominantly Grenache, the vines are ungrafted and pre-phylloxera, making this wine a historically important bottle that all the wine geeks out there should try.
It doesn’t hurt that it tastes awesome, too. The wines are fermented in stainless steel and aged in oak for six months—black pepper and coriander on the nose, with sandalwood and currant notes. Full-bodied, the wine offers great balance with spicy and savory fruit. On the finish come notes of espresso and leather.