In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black cherry, blackberry, cedar, mineral, sweet spice

Palate: dense black fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury

A pure old-vine Tempranillo from the best parcels, aged in new French oak; darker and more structured than the regular Roda, with a mineral, savoury core.

What it pairs with

  • Chuleton de buey Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
    Aged-beef chop frames Roda I's fine tannin and dark fruit.
  • Venison loin
    Dark game meets the wine's blackberry-and-graphite density.
  • Aged Manchego
    Hard cheese balances the structured frame.

How to serve Roda I Reserva

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Chuleton de buey, Venison loin, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Roda I is the selection of the estate's finest old-vine Tempranillo parcels, aged in new French oak, the more powerful of the two Roda bottlings.

  1. 1992 — First Roda I vintage

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Roda
Grapes
Tempranillo (100%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 14 to 16 months in new French oak
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 45 to 75 at retail
Drinking window
8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage
1992

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 95 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Roda I Reserva

What does Roda I Reserva taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, blackberry, cedar, mineral, sweet spice. On the palate, dense black fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A pure old-vine Tempranillo from the best parcels, aged in new French oak; darker and more structured than the regular Roda, with a mineral, savoury core.

When should I drink Roda I Reserva?

Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Roda I Reserva?

Chuleton de buey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin and Aged Manchego. Aged-beef chop frames Roda I's fine tannin and dark fruit.

Is Roda I Reserva vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in Roda I Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

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