Bodegas Roda founded in the late 1980s and based in the heart of the Rioja region at Haro has rapidly gained renown for its meticulous and exacting research into Tempranillo, one of Spain’s oldest indigenous grape varieties. Using the most modern of technology, Roda have perfected the art of Tempranillo, identifying 552 individual clones, from which only 20 have been selected for propagation, chosen for the quality they deliver in specific vineyard plots.

Tended by renowned Rioja expert Agustin Santolaya, President and Supervising Winemaker, the Roda vineyards consist of 28 immaculate blocks of old Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano vines, located in the best ecosystems of La Rioja Alta. Here, the Atlantic, the Continental and the Mediterranean climates play off each other unpredictably, causing a given vineyard to respond differently from one year to the next. This variation forms the heart of the Roda philosophy to express not just a sense of place, but also the climatic year of each vintage.

Vineyards

The grapes for Roda Reserva Rioja are sourced from old bush vines (>30 years old) which are limited to a yield of 1.5 kgs of grapes per vine to encourage phenolic maturity. This results in more depth and complexity on the palate. The vines are carefully monitored, up to 3 times a week nearing harvest, to ensure they are harvested at the very best time.

Vinification

All the grapes are harvested by Roda’s own pickers into small 18 kgs crates and the average yield per hectare is no more than 5000 kgs. At the winery, the grapes undergo a period of cold maceration followed by temperature controlled fermentation completed in French oak vats. This is then followed by malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 14 months in barrel of which 40% are new and 60% are second use French oak followed by 30 months in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Notes

Deep red, bright and brilliant colour, with a light red colour background. The nose is very expressive of live red fruit. Sensations of fresh cherry, light spices and some earthy wet notes. The palate exhibits medium volume, light but fresh, red fruit, fine tannins. Very delicate and very long. Fresh and ethereal it shows the Atlantic vintage even more than 2012.