Beronia 1987 Gran Reserva

Wine: Beronia 1987 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Beronia (Ollauri, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, Viura
ABV: 13%
Winemaking

Vineyards on clay-limestone soils located around Ollauri. The wine was aged for 48 months in 225-liter American oak barrels from Ohio. Bottled in September 1994. It remained in the winery's cellars for a minimum of 36 months prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Bright, luminous reddish-ruby with medium depth; very clean. It shows pomegranate and amber highlights. The rim is broad and fully tawny (tile-red), contrasting sharply with the core.

 

Nose: High intensity—open and expressive. It offers an abundance of red fruit in liqueur, strawberry tree fruit, and candied cherries, accompanied by nuances of vanilla, aged leather, wine-soaked staves, roasted coffee, and a balsamic hint of sage. It sits halfway between a classic Rioja red and the "new wave" wines of the 1980s. The oak influence becomes more prominent as the wine breathes, revealing soft creamy notes, toffee, smoke, and a hint of damp earth.

 

Palate: Fresh and lively on the palate, driven by excellent acidity and filled with concentrated red fruit. Savory and spicy; slightly astringent with sweet tannins. It is a delight to drink! A very serious, solid wine with clear ambitions, demonstrating González Byass's firm commitment to long-aged wines following their acquisition of the winery in 1982. It has reached the present day in impeccable condition, and we can only hope it maintains this level for many years. Current Beronia Gran Reservas should look to the model established by these early González Byass vintages.

 

Personal Score: 91
Tasting Group Score: 92