Drink of the Week: Beronia Elaboracion Rioja 2008

November 02, 2012

Like the Colorado kid tearfully lamenting the ongoing election coverage in the now-viral video, we’re ready for this election season to wrap up, and with our votes already cast here in Oregon (thank you, vote by mail!), tonight we plan to turn off the TV (and the radio and Internet), put on our PJs and crack open a bottle of today’s Drink of the Week—the 2008 Elaboracion Rioja from Beronia. More fleshy and fruit-forward than traditional, all dry-fruit-and-dust Riojas, this vibrant Tempranillo from the famed Gonzalez Byass sherry house (the family-owned company responsible for the beloved Tio Pepe fino, among others) offers up a decidedly modernist take to winemaking, fermenting the entire lot in highly toasted new-American oak barrique. Risky, for sure, but worth every drop. Expect flavors of bright cherry, fresh herbs and even some cocoa and spice—the perfect kind of bottle to hunker down with on a night like tonight.

$15, spanishtablewines.com