Beronia Rioja Reserva 2005

Been an OK night at work and the weather is pretty nice with a higher than normal humidity, but after the past few days, the feeling is comfortable. I got home from the day job a little past 10 p.m. and was dreaming of a nice red wine for most of my shift. I usually hate going through the wine fridge and choosing a wine, so I reached in and was determined to open whatever was picked. You can do this when you keep your wines in no particular order and just reach in without looking for any logo or symbol on the foil wrap.  Of course, my bottom shelf is for my keepers, so they were exempt and not touched. Out came a Spanish wine that has been sitting in the fridge for almost a year. A Beronia Rioja Reserva 2005 ($18) which I bought at a local wine shop just before last Christmas. A Spanish red blend of 90% Tempranillo, 6% Mazuelo and 4% Graciano.
Aromas were full of black plum, leather with very little oak and vanilla. A very intense mouthfeel of smoke, leather and a hint of spice led to a long, smooth and dry finish.  I just had to find some kinda of snack to match, but the snack bar was a little bare.
First try was a Weight Watcher Mozzarella stick. Yuck!!  Can't believe they call this cheese.  But, the wine made up for whatever chemical was used to make the fake cheese stick. I had to revert back to my addiction to Lively Run Goat Dairy Feta.  I thinks I found the perfect wine to pair with what I say is a perfect Feta cheese. Could not resist the cheese or the wine and ended the evening finishing both.  There are still a few more BBQ weekends on the patio and a few more steaks to grill and I know where to find the wine. A fantastic Spanish red from Bodegas Beronia.