Rare vertical collection of Roda I reserva !! Bodegas Roda is a leading winery in the Rioja Alta region of Spain, known for its densely fruity wines made predominantly from Tempranillo. The winery, founded in 1987, is located on the edge of the railway station district of Haro next to La Rioja Alta. The vineyards are spread over around 20 old vine plots, mostly in Rioja Alta, and are planted to bush vines. Harvests are all carried out by hand into 18-kilo (40-pound) crates for gentle transportation. All Roda wines are fermented in French oak vats. They are only matured in French oak barrels - traditionally American oak is most common in the region. The old 19th century cellars are dried out by hot and cold water absorption. This is part of a clever renewable water system that both heats and cools the facilities. Bodegas Roda wine portfolio Roda's flagship wine is Cirsion, a wine made from individually identified vines dotted throughout the vineyards. A specific team of harvest workers are trained to identify these vines, which must be low-yielding and more than 40 years old. Unusually for a premium wine, Cirsion only receives around eight months in barrel, as early trials for the wine revealed its smooth texture and fruit complexity with short-term aging. It is released after a further four months in bottle. There are also two Roda Reserva wines. These are sourced from 17 different vineyard parcels, which are vinified separately in sizeable French oak vats. After one year the barrels designated for the two Roda wines are tasted and blended into one or the other label. Both wines then undergo aging in French oak barriques, followed by at least the minimum period of time in bottle to qualify for Reserva status (three years total aging). The Roda Reserva wine is usually predominantly Tempranillo with around 10 percent Graciano. For this wine the winery seeks to emphasize the red fruit characteristics of Tempranullo. Roda I is usually entirely Tempranillo and spends slightly longer in oak. Here the black fruit characters of the variety are promoted. Sela, Roda's junior wine, is designed to be soft, easy-going and immediately approachable. The fruit comes from vineyards of between 15 and 30 years of age. It sees 12 months in 50 percent new French oak barrels, though fruit is emphasized over vanilla and wood spices. It is mostly Tempranillo with small amounts of Graciano and Garnacha.