In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, balsamic, sweet spice, dried herb
Palate: red fruit, fine tannin, mineral, savoury
The house's modern Reserva from old-vine Tempranillo with a touch of Graciano: fresher and more elegant than Roda I, balancing ripe fruit with a savoury, mineral spine.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game meets Roda's balsamic, savoury depth.
How to serve Roda Reserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Roda Reserva is the estate's signature wine, a modern but balanced Reserva from old-vine fruit aged mostly in used French oak.
- 1992 — First Roda Reserva vintage as the estate launched
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Roda
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (89%), Graciano (11%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 14 months in French oak, mostly used barrels
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 28 to 45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1992
Scores
- Tim Atkin 94 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Roda Reserva
What does Roda Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, balsamic, sweet spice, dried herb. On the palate, red fruit, fine tannin, mineral, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The house's modern Reserva from old-vine Tempranillo with a touch of Graciano: fresher and more elegant than Roda I, balancing ripe fruit with a savoury, mineral spine.
When should I drink Roda Reserva?
Drink 6 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Roda Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Roda 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 Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (89%), Graciano (11%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.