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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008





I tried the Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008 sometime ago but having recently met González Byass’ chairman Mauricio González-Gordón and the family-owned business' Master Blender Antonio Flores Pedregosa at the 2012 London International Wine Fair, I felt compelled to revisit it.

There is something inherently compelling about the González Byass winemaking dynasty and in particular the notion of legacy and heritage that is imbued within the company.

In many respects the family ethos that runs throughout the company, including the winemakers, is their quality control because as González-Gordón told CellarVie Wines, “no one wants to see their surname on the label of a product that they don’t feel proud of.”
The Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008 is not only a perfect example of Gonzalez Byass’ consistent quality but it is also an archetypal Riojan wine.

It’s a Tempranillo-Garnacha-Mazuelo blend and although that didn’t mean an awful lot to me when I first tried it, it’s a wine with great character and wonderful balance. It’s quite a heavy wine and seeing as the sun has finally made an appearance this year; it might be a bit too much in this surprisingly searing heat. But given the fleeting nature of our British summers there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy this wine and I can’t recommend it enough. 
 
To see what the other members of CellarVie Wines chose for the ‘What we’re drinking’ section and why, click on the links below.
 
Charlotte - Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc  
Ben - Flagstone Longitude 
Simon - Rare Vineyards Marsanne-Viognier 
Eliott - Veramonte Pinot Noir 
Jon - ‘Piluna’ Primitivo 
Sophie - Bourgogne Blanc 'Clos de Loyse' 2009 
Eliott - Touraine Sauvignon Domaine Trotignon  
Charlotte - 1847 Oloroso Dulce Sherry 
Simon - Errázuriz Single Vineyard Carmenère 2009 
Jon - Chardonnay Grand Cru 2008, Tenuta Rapitalà 
Christopher - Brookfield Reserve Chardonnay-Viognier 2009
 
Why not let us know what you are drinking by posting your comments in the section below or post photos of you enjoying a nice glass of wine on our Facebook page...   
 
 
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Beautiful photographs of mid-air wine spillage by Manon Wethly


Belgium-based photographer Manon Wethly has created a stunning series of photographs that capture various liquids in a state of mid-air spillage.

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