Beronia Rioja Crianza 2018 750 ML

Introduction

2018 vintage Rioja Crianza from Beronia, which spent time in French and American oak barrels for added layers of woody spice alongside the fruit. Beronia wines are known to be a good match for food, and this one is no exception when paired with lamb chops, or some spicy stews. Producer Information Bodegas Beronia is a Spanish wine producer, founded in 1973 in Rioja. It is located in the Rioja Alta subregion and is surrounded by 25 hectares (61 acres) of estate vineyards, supplemented by almost 900ha (2223 acres) of grower vineyards from around the region. Tempranillo dominates the vineyards, although Beronia also has plantings of Graciano, Garnacha and Viura. A majority of the wines produced by Beronia fall under the Rioja DOCa title. As well as making several entry-level varietal and Crianza wines, there are also Reserva and Gran Reserva wines, and a selection of top cuves aged for an extended period in oak and only released in top years: the 198 Barricas Reserva, Beronia IIIac and the Beronia Vias Viejas. Oak aging is key at Beronia. Barrels are sourced from forests in Oregon and the American Midwest, as well as from Allier and Limousin in France. New and old oak are used, depending on the wine, and Beronia was the first to create a “mixed” barrel, made from American staves and French tops. Following their time in oak, Beronia’s wines are typically aged in bottle for a period before they are released. Beronia’s vineyards are planted on soils of sand, sediment and clay and are poor in organic materials. The vines are a mixture of pre-phylloxera plantings and newer vines planted in 2011. There are some older vines among Beronia’s grower vineyards as well these are used to create the Beronia Vias Viejas wine.