Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special
Bodegas Roda ‘Roda I’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $49 special
Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($34.95) Buy Now: $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($399.95) Buy Now: $269 special
Tempranillo remains a grape unmastered by anyone outside of Spain. The Ribera del Duero has become famous for its version of Iberia’s noblest grape, but the world’s finest Tempranillo still comes from La Rioja. Perfect growing conditions aside, La Rioja possesses a centuries-old tradition of Tempranillo winemaking, which usually blends in some Graciano, Mazuelo, and/or Grenache. Today, styles vary in La Rioja, and amongst the more modern wineries Bodegas Roda stands out. Absolute quality drives Roda’s vinous pursuits. Old vines abound in Roda’s estate vineyards, and the ultra-modern winery keeps the site’s 19th-century cellars at different temperatures depending on the stage of vinification. Each of the 17 vineyards ferments and ages separately in French oak until the wines are blended to create Roda’s signature wines. The Roda cuvée offers red fruit in a silky, fruit-forward fashion, while the Roda I tends toward dark fruit and a full, complex palate of chocolate and spice — both are Reservas. The Sela lends itself to earlier, easier drinking, with definite Roda character. All three of these wines are ready to drink, but could also cellar for years more. We’re delighted to have Roda on our list: it’s one of Spain’s best. – Daniel