Bodega Roda, Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2017

Represents of one the two profiles of the ripening of Tempranillo: the red fruit.

In RODA we look for the parcels that that year have ripened in a red fruit profile, with the expression of the aromas present in the edge of the glass, ready to be felt immediately; with sweet spice notes and a kind freshness. In the mouth the red fruit carries the importance, with a fresh, long, silky, voluptuous and continuous mouth pass. Before vintage 2002, RODA was called RODA II.

TASTING

Colour:

Middle layer with a red background and also red rim, somewhat more open in colour than usual. The profile of the 2018 vintage, rainy and cold, is noticeable in the colour.

Nose:

It is intense with very fresh red fruit, light and very fine. There is a lot of delicacy and balance. The oak is impeccably assembled and the fruit is specially fresh. The sensation in the nose grows as it is aerated. Notes of very fine spices are appreciated.

Palate:

It is of medium volume that fills the palate. The tannin is polished and the touch is very pleasant. It has a marked fruity character from the profile of red fruits, among which the cherry stands out. It is long and fresh and floral details appear among the spicy notes. It has spaciousness and lightness at the same time.

The influence of the 2018 vintage is noticeable, a fresh year with an old profile, with rain and cold temperatures that gave wine of lower volume and greater freshness.

TECHNICAL DATA

Grape varieties:

89% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 7% Garnacha.

Vineyard:

Bush vines older than 30 years, mostly in Haro and its surroundings. Average yields 1,5 kg. per vine.

Production:

Alcoholic fermentation in French oak vats equipped with temperature control, followed by a malolactic fermentation in French oak barrrel.

Ageing:

14 months in French oak barrels (40% brand new and 60% second-use) and 30 months in bottle prior to its release.

Bodegas Roda

Rioja, Spain

Founded in 1987, Bodegas Roda is located in the town of Haro in La Rioja, covering 120 hectares of vineyards, 75ha of which they own.

In a nutshell: Bodegas Roda is a modern winery, founded in the late 1980s. They have rapidly gained respect for their meticulous research into the Tempranillo grape variety developed via the identification of 552 clones with 20 clones ultimately selected for propagation judged by the quality they deliver in specific vineyard plots.

The Atlantic and Mediterranean climates in the region play against each other, causing each vineyard to respond differently from harvest to harvest. As a result, Roda have become experts in variation, aiming to produce wines that are not just indicative of the terroir, but that reflect the climatic year of each vintage.

The winery at Bodegas Roda was renovated in 2019, providing more blending options such as individual vineyard vinification. They focus on minimum intervention with spontaneous fermentations, short macerations and French oak only to minimise oak impact. Sustainability practices are key for Roda, as a partner of the European SHIP2FAIR project supporting renewable sources of energy. In addition, they produce the highly acclaimed Aubocassa Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Majorca, which launched on the market in 1998 and has since become a reference brand among high-end Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

The terroir: Traditional bush vines are dry farmed at high altitude on predominantly sandstone soil slopes, with low rainfall. Many of the Bodegas Roda vineyards are in the foothills of the mountains, but they have recently purchased land at a higher altitude to provide the best variations in the face of climate change. The Bodega owns a number of old vines up to 100 years old, that produce grapes with extraordinary qualities. Roda has plantings of the three native varieties, Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha, with all farming done sustainably.

The Bodegas Roda “personality”: A new-wave Rioja producer and Tempranillo expert, with a focus on the vineyard and clonal studies to produce the best quality wines.