Beronia, Rioja (Spain) 2015

 A smile usually comes to my face whenever I return to Rioja Gran Reserva and, typically, its lovely union of fruit an oak.  It is probably an unfair characterization, and perhaps one the producers wouldn’t care for but these reds remind me of Left Bank Bordeaux during the 1980s before their wines started to become more fruit forward.  Anyway, this is a lovely wine with rich, red fruit that is almost juicy yet muted by almost-neutral oak that you sense as much as you taste.  There is good acidity and mild, dusty tannins.  A great wine to sip unless you have some cured ham slices handy.