Bodegas Roda, Roda Reserva 2017, DOCa Rioja, Spain

A vineyard on a terrace jutting out like the bows of a ship from the Haro Barrio de la Estacion to the river Ebro was transformed into the current winery location. Here, an underground cellar, reaching down 12 metres below the surface, was once used in the 19th century, when local wine growers stored their vintages there before shipping them by rail to Bordeaux to alleviate the crisis caused by the phylloxera epidemic. 2017 vintage – 89% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 5% Garnacha. Winemaking: Fermentation and malolactic fermentation in French oak followed by 14 months aging in French oak barrique (40% new) and 30 months in bottle. Tasting Notes: Color: Medium-high layer with a red background and red rim. Nose: Very intense, full of red fruits. Lots of ripe cherry and some hints of black fruit. Mineral wine with earthy notes and a lot of depth. Perfectly assembled oak and great elegance. Notes of aromatic plants and floral nuances appear. Palate: Good volume with a velvety touch. Very good tannin. Lots of red fruits full of nuances. With a very slight bitterness from the cherry pit. Long, fresh and delicious.