Bodega Roda, Roda I, Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2016

RODA I

Black fruit in a wine with character that maintains the freshness of the fruit.

RODA I is blended with parcels that that year have ripened in a black fruit profile. The deep black fruit, is almost always dominated by the plumb and supported by mineral notes, chocolate and balsamic sensations, that form an ensemble that slowly flows from the furthest side of the glass until it becomes huge in the entrance of the nose. In the mouth, the volume becomes evident, the fruit complexity nicely surrounds the mouth cavity showing the numerous and polished tannins. The wine gets longer making stronger the retro nasal sensation every time we breathe. A fruity and fresh sensation will last, inviting us to continue drinking.

 

TASTING

Colour:

Intense and bright, with a high layer, cherry red background and red rim.

Nose:

The complexity of the aromas and the quality are surprising. Excellent nose.

There is a superposition of aromatic layers that express themselves. The oak is very discreet, always holding the fruit and the spicy notes. The layer of fruit aromas is abundant, with a clear profile of black fruits, highlighting black plum and blueberries.

In the layer of spices there is a play of cloves, black pepper and a light touch of cinnamon. In the background, details of very subtle white flowers can be seen. The aroma of the moist earth, which brings mineral memories, mixes with that of the cocoa in a really pleasant aromatic layer.

Palate:

It has good volume with a nice touch. The tannin is present, but it is very fine, of great quality.

The fruit character with a black profile stands out in the palate and plum is the protagonist. There is a slightly bitter note, like that of the stone of the fruit, very pleasant, which gives personality to the whole.

 

TECHNICAL DATA

Grape varieties:

90% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano and 4% Garnacha.

Vineyard:

Bush vines over 30 years old, yields limited to 1,5 kgs per vine.

Fermentation:

In French oak vats, with controlled temperature.

Ageing:

In 50% brand new and 50% second use, French oak barrels. 16 months in barrels and 20 months cellaring in bottle.

 

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.