Vintage Character 2018 Bodegas Roda "Roda I" Reserva is a Reserva from DOCa Rioja, sourced in Rioja Alta and built around Tempranillo from old vines. In Rioja, 2018 followed a cold, rainy spring with mildew pressure, yet the finer conditions later in the season delivered a vintage admired for freshness, balance, and classical proportion rather than sheer power. Its origin near Haro gives the wine a distinctive Atlantic-influenced profile, with calcareous clay and limestone-rich soils helping shape tension, aromatic lift, and the polished tannin line that defines top Rioja Alta reds.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing Awarded 93 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, this is a deeply composed Rioja with a black-fruited signature true to the Roda I style. The nose leans toward blackberry, black cherry, violet, licorice, cedar and dark spice, with subtle cocoa and balsamic nuances emerging in the glass. On the palate it is full-bodied yet refined, combining dense fruit, medium-high acidity, and fine-grained tannins in a sleek, savory texture that carries into a long, mineral finish. It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb chops, duck breast with cherry sauce, or wild mushroom risotto.
Winery Background Founded in 1987 in Haro’s historic Barrio de la Estación, Bodegas Roda helped redefine modern Rioja through meticulous vineyard research and an unwavering focus on fruit purity and terroir expression. The estate is known for selecting old-vine parcels plot by plot, harvesting carefully, and vinifying with precision to preserve site character. Aging in French oak, rather than the more traditional American-oak model, gives the wines a finer aromatic frame and more contemporary elegance. Roda I stands out as the house’s black-fruit expression: powerful, polished, and benchmark-worthy without losing Rioja identity.