Rioja Roda I Reserva, Bodegas Roda 2019

in the 2019 Roda I, I found notes that I had found in many 2019s—ripe black fruit, an earthy touch and a touch of dark spices. It's medium to full-bodied, combining power, concentration, ripeness and elegance in a clean and modern style. It matured in French oak barrels, 50% of them new, but it’s not really noticeable, for 16 months. 128,034 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022. Drink: 2024-2032.

Immense depth and exuberance here. Fine spices, dark plums, fresh blackberries, blueberries, graphite and crushed stones. Naturally concentrated, broad, vertical and full-bodied, but still fluid and linear. Crumbled, dusty tannins grow on the palate, leading it to a juicy, tightly wound finish that goes on and on. One of the best Roda I? Drinkable now upon decanting, but much better from 2025.