Beronia Winery
2016 Beronia Reserva Rioja – A Region of Distinction
Photo from Beronia website
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine used 95% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 1% Mazuelo grapes. Aged for 18 months in mixed French and American oak barrels, followed by an additional 18 months aging in the bottle 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 garnet almost blackish coloring. On the nose dark fruits, black cherry and blackberries are initial scents picked up. On the palate, this Rioja is silky smooth with sweet tannins and acidity kept in check. The fruits with a hint of old-world structure and spices finish off each sip. On the finish, a very slight sweetness of vanilla and toffee with a counter balance of minerality. The wine was rated 91 points and came in at 14.5% alcohol level.
My personal recommendation would be to spend a bit more and go with the Gran Reserva as it provides a much fuller experience. Gran Reserva is one of my favorite Rioja wines.
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 pan fried fileted chicken with a homemade chili salsa. Topped off with grated cotija cheese. Accompanied by roasted yellow street corn, also topped with cotija cheese. Additionally, refried beans with cheddar cheese were served. While a bit apprehensive pairing chicken with a red wine, the salsa with mellowness and little tannins of the Rioja were very well matched.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com