B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
A duo of delicious, highly rated Riojas delivering exceptional value, the fresh, fruit-driven 91 pt. 2019 Bodegas Beronia Reserva and the richly textured 94 pt. 2013 Bodegas Beronia Gran Reserva balance juicy red Tempranillo fruit with vibrant acidity, two outstanding selections expertly aged for Spanish wine lovers seeking bargain priced Riojas to enjoy without hesitation.
Established in Rioja Alta in 1973, Bodegas Beronia was created by a group of friends from the Basque region seeking to produce well priced Riojas to enjoy at their gastronomic get-togethers, naming it for the area’s ancient Celtic settlers called “berones.” Producing the Reserva and Gran Reserva as their first releases, Beronia sources its Rioja from 20 hectares of estate vineyards as well as 870 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards within a 10-kilometer radius of the winery, managed by the winery team to ensure quality. enabling them to exercise optimum control over the quality. Described as “an outstanding Rioja Reserva here to enjoy now or in the next five years” by James Suckling, longtime Beronia winemaker Matias Calleja blended mostly Tempranillo with a little Graciana and Mazuelo to enhance freshness in the 2018 Beronia Reserva, aging it for 18 months in specially designed barrels crafted with American oak staves and French oak lids and cellaring it 18 months longer in bottle to reveal richly layered fruit with notes of toasted vanilla and smooth, integrated tannins. Crafted from old vine Tempranillo ranging to over 70 years of age, the rich and decadent 94 pt. 2013 Beronia Gran Reserva was aged 27 months in French oak barrels followed by another three years in bottle prior to release, yielding a "fresh and enticing" Rioja according to the Wine Spectator's Alison Napjus with “fine-grained, creamy tannins" and layers of complexity that will continue to evolve over the next decade. |