2012 Beronia Gran Reserva Rioja
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine used 93% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 3% Mazuelo grapes. Unique to this winery is the use of French oak barrels for 28 months and to complete the aging process leaves it in the bottle for another 36 months before release! The wine comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Their recommendation is to drink before 2033. Decided to open it about mid-point in its maturity and it was very good.
First on the eyes a deep radiant red almost blackish coloring. On the nose ripe plums and an earthiness note. On the palate, this Rioja shines with dark fruits of figs and plums, slight tobacco and a modicum of blueberries and walnut flavors. While enjoying each sip, the structure and tannin are layered and mature. The finish is long, offering complexity and balance at the same time.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled this wine for dinner with baked chicken cheese enchiladas. Ingredients included cream cheese, sour cream, fresh salsa, Cheddar cheese, yellow corn, cumin, dried oregano, cayenne, salt & pepper, sliced scallions and 8-inch flour tortillas. Accompanied by yellow corn (same used inside the tortillas). The dinner was another wonderful wintertime comfort food. The food pairing with the wine was extremely good with each morsel of food being enveloped with the Rioja wine.
Sláinte,
Michael