Description
Often referred to as “the Grand Cru of Rioja”, Bodega Roda is a landmark in the old Riojan city of Haro. From the underground drives to the dedicated, floor-heated malolactic cellar, everything Roda does speaks of precision and fastidious attention to detail. Fruit from each of its 17 vineyards is vinified separately and only after a year in barrel are decisions taken about the wines’ ultimate designation. Irrespective of this though, Roda’s ground-breaking R&D work on the phenolic maturity of Tempranillo means that all their wines are famed for their ethereal balance, elegance and finesse. From Sela through to their flagship Cirsion, the wines progress from the red-fruit spectrum to the black, all the while increasing in concentration and complexity, while retaining that signature finesse and balance.
The team at Roda are not merely dedicated, they are detail-obsessed. Perhaps the most impressive (mahogany-scented) winery you will ever see; everything is about the production and retention of grape quality – the modern approach to wine through viticulture is nowhere given more commitment. Fruit is from vineyards in excess of 30 years (some up to 80 years old), grown organically, aged in French barrels, neither filtered nor fined. Each vintage is made “on its merits” to reflect style of the vintage (rather than an application of a recipe). Aromatic, fresh red berry thru’ to black fruit, some dark chocolate and tar/roast meat underneath with fine silky tannins. Ooodles of class and sophistication in their fine reds.
Roda Reserva (formerly known as Roda 2), compared to Roda 1, is based on a selection of Tempranillo which exhibits some red fruits and earth in the mix with the stricter, more structured blue-note Tempranillo which becomes Roda 1.
Roda 1 is handled identically to Roda, but the blue-note fruit has a heightened minerality with fine but determined structure resulting from great tannin maturity. The differences between Roda and Roda 1 are simply the product of fruit selection, not winemaking. It’s a wine of power with enormous finesse.
It is 100% Tempranillo. As the winery says, “It is a wine with more structure, with deeper sensations of black fruits, greater wealth of minerals and more complexity. It is a wine for quietness and meditation with a style marked by black cherry.”
RODA 1 Reserva 2010 has a deep and mineral nose, with dark, gamey-meaty fruit inset with vanilla, licorice, blue florals and soft dark spices. The palate is just so long, with wonderfully harnessed power. There’s great spice in fruit of restrained fleshiness, blackberry carrying licorice, leather and steely minerals into a finish of great finesse. Savoury and deeply textural thanks to lovely sweet seeds and very fine silty tannins. The back-palate floral perfume release is spectacular. This is by far the most fluid and open, delicate and flowing Roda 1 we have seen.
RRP $170