2013 Roda I Reserva Rioja

A juicy and fruity red for the vintage. Plenty of berry and stone character. Medium body, soft tannins and a flavorful finish. Easy and delicious. Drink now.

2013 was an unusual growing season, a wet year after two very dry ones, with cooler temperatures that resulted in a late flowering and a very late harvest because ripening was almost three weeks later than normal. The 2013 Roda I is pure Tempranillo, as they didn't use any Graciano this time, and they had to sort and select the grapes and produced a lot less of this first wine. It has some herbal aromas, and it feels lighter than any of the other vintages of Roda I I tasted next to it. It's fresh and medium-bodied, getting closer to the profile of a Roda. It's a very good effort for the vintage-it's clean and focused and manages to get its poise, and the tannins are quite fine.

A classic Atlantic vintage in Rioja (cool and wet) was saved by good weather in September and October. Made from low-yielding, 30-year-old Tempranillo bush vines, this has bright aromas of red berry fruit and ripe plum, with spicy, savoury hints and an earthy undertone. Tasted after eight years, the red fruit palate is showing plenty of freshness, with fine tannins and a long, spicy finish. Sensitive oak use (40% new and 60% second-use French for 14 months) and 30 months ageing in bottle. Drinking well now, but will keep.