Roda I Reserva 2020

Roda I Reserva Rioja, Spain, 2020

Grapes: 92% Tempranillo & 8% Graciano. Hand harvested fruit from 30 year old bush vines. Egg white clarification. 16 months' ageing in French oak (50% each in new and second use barrels) and a minimum 20 months in bottle before release.

Producer Tasting Note:

Colour: Deep, very dark red with notes of deep cherry and a red rim.

Nose: Very intense, fruity in character, with aromas of black fruits and hints of red fruit. It evokes black plum and ripe cherries. There is a background of sweet spices in the cinnamon and clove range. Aromatic herbs also appear, transporting you directly to the landscape of the Haro vineyard.

Palate: It has a full body and an impeccable mouthfeel, with present yet very fine tannins that leave a velvety sensation. Plum and cherry define the fruit character, which is strongly appreciated in waves on the retronasal passage. There are many nuances to this wine, which is now at its peak for enjoyment. What surprised everyone at the joint tasting was that this vintage is more ready to drink than the previous one, 2019. The 2020 vintage has yielded wines of great delicacy, linked to a vineyard that remained untouched by contamination, in harmony with nature and viticulture, while the world was in lockdown. Perhaps it's not the most powerful or voluminous vintage, but it is certainly one of the finest and most delicate.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Such a delicious reserva that has huge depth of fruit, dark minerals and cocoa powder. Full-bodied and powdery on the palate, with stacks of glossy black fruit. Juicy and really long. Modern, for sure, with lots of fruit and youthful color. You can call it Roda's neoclassical style. Drink or hold."

95/100 points, James Suckling, August 2024

"The flagship 2020 Roda I has a nose of black fruit and spices with hints of licorice and aromatic herbs, with depth and complexity, still very young and undeveloped. It's mostly Tempranillo and 8% Graciano fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, half of them new, for 16 months. It reveals a powerful nose with good ripeness, reaching 14.5% alcohol but keeping its poise with a good pH and acidity, coming through as medium to full-bodied with juicy berry fruit and abundant, slightly dusty tannins. 119,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2023."  Drink 2025-2035

94/100 points, Luis Gutiérrez, WINE ADVOCATE, February 2025

"Cooler than 2021" is how Esperanza Tomás describes the 2020 vintage, which she rates highly, despite the mildew that reduced yields in some vineyards. Modern, perfumed and well framed, this is an adroit blend of Tempranillo and 8% Graciano, showing plenty of colour, scented 50% new wood, bright blackberry and blueberry fruit and top notes of ginger and vanilla spice." Drink 2028-37

94/100 points, Tim Atkin MW, March 2025

Also awarded 95/100 points by Guia Penin (Spain), April 2024

Founded in 1987 in Haro, La Rioja, Roda use traditional viticulture: dry farming, head pruning, cover crops, sustainability, indigenous yeast.

Food Match: Serve at room temperature with venison medallions and puréed winter root vegetables