Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Oaky like scotch, but yummy.

It's drinking perfectly.

Nutty cherry and raspberry with that whiskey barrel sweetness that you expect from a classic approach. Too much American Oak for my taste.

French oak, pretty great w a filet and some chimichurri.

Drinking well. Showing a little balsamic, fruit, lots of secondary flavors and very little oak at this point. Me likey.

Refined, chewy and rich. Cherry and earth notes. Velvety.

I love rioja with age, and found this 2006 Beronia Gran Reserva that would be nicely paired with a 2001 I had for awhile. Opened for about an hour, this had a little more muted nose than the 2001, which is to be expected, but is a great wine on its own. The nose is still super red berry and floral, but an earthy floral with new leather qualities. The palate has a nice peppery kick before it settles into a softer version of a wine, lighter on tannin but not on flavor. The finish stays and it pairs well with my charred filet and my company's ribeyes.

Blind wine #1: nailed this one....picked Reserva instead of GR

2006.

A nuanced Gran Reserva, with 100% French oak, re-racked into neutral barrels in the second year. The color shows no bricking at this age, though some tertiary aromas are developing.