Rioja Roda I Reserva, Bodegas Roda 2007

The Tempranillo grapes for the 2007 Roda I Reserva are sourced from head-pruned Tempranillo vines over 30 years old, mostly around Haro, that ferment in big oak vats with their own yeasts and are transferred to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, where the wine matures for 16 months. 2007 was a cold vintage with mildew problems during the growing season and a late harvest which resulted in a true Atlantic vintage with more stuffing than 2008. Here the fruit is darker, black cherries and black plums complemented by notes of very fine spices, with good depth and showing signs of some developed complexity. The medium-bodied palate reveals a pure, delineated, clean wine with fine acidity. It finishes long, with some dusty tannins. It develops a deep Rioja character as the wine opens up in the glass. Give it one or two years to develop some more of than incipient complexity and enjoy over the next decade. Very elegant and fine; it should age with style. Drink 2015-2027.