Flashback to the early 2000s and I was enjoying a lot of Rioja wines. They were wines that totally over-delivered for the price and I admired tasting the wines of Beronia — particularly their Gran Reserva wines that came from the mid to late 1990s. Bodega Beronia has always been relatively easy to find in the United States and the continue that trend today as many of these wines can be found in Pacific Northwest wine shops and grocery stores. Bodega Beronia is surrounded by 25 hectares of estate vineyards and their team control a massive 870 hectares of vineyards situated within a 10km radius of the winery in the Rioja Alta region of La Rioja. The average age of these vineyards is 30 years and more than 50 hectares of their plantings exceed 60 years of age.
Beronia winemaker Matias Calleja, has been at the winery for nearly 40 years. He has left a massive imprint on all of Rioja and I love his new range wines which all show really good value. I love the new 2019 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja (OB, 90) which shows great poise and concentration. A killer new wine is the 2015 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja (OB, 93) which is very rich with some serious aging potential. Learn more about this special estate at http://www.beronia.com Here are the great new wines by Bodega Beronia.
2020 Bodega Beronia ‘Tempranillo Elaboration Especial’ Rioja- The 2020 Bodega Beronia ‘Tempranillo Elaboration Especial’ Rioja offers rich boysenberry and black currant fruit flavors alongside a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2017 Bodega Beronia Graciano- The 2017 Graciano shows pretty red rose petals on the nose alongside wild blackberry, thyme and tiled soil notes. The palate is soft and refined with good concentration. Drink 2023-2030- 91
2019 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja- The really good 2019 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja offers red plum and juicy red raspberry with blood orange zest notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and fleshy with a smooth texture. Drink this great value now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2023-2029- 90
2018 Bodega Beronia ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The shockingly good 2018 Bodega Beronia ‘Reserva’ Riojais a beautiful wine in a warm vintage. Sweet pipe tobacco with coffee grounds, red currants and citrus rind notes all mark the palate. Drink 2023-2032- 92
2015 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja- Stored in French oak barrels for more than five years, the 2015 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja offers beautiful aromatics of purple roses alongside tobacco leaf, leather and boysenberry notes. The palate has fantastic viscosity and tension with salty undercurrents. Drink 2023-2037- 94