1994 Bodegas Roda, Roda I - Rioja Reserva - 6 Garrafas (0,75 L)

1994 Roda 1 reserva. Rioja.
Level: high shoulder.
Capsule: very good.
Label: excellent.

Key Details & Background:

• Producer: Bodegas Roda, founded in the late 1980s in Haro's historic Barrio de la Estación.
• The "Roda I" Style: Bodegas Roda separates its production by fruit profile. Bottles marked with the black capsule and label text Roda I represent plots that yield a darker, black-fruit profile (dominated by plum, mineral, and chocolate tones).
• The 1994 Vintage: This specific vintage is widely regarded as a legendary, benchmark year for Rioja. The climate was exceptionally dry and austere, which yielded deeply concentrated fruit. For this precise vintage, the blend is composed of approximately 83% Tempranillo and 17% Garnacha, retaining a powerful yet stylish structure.

Tasting Profile & Current Status

Historically, critics like Stephen Tanzer noted its superripe, complex aromas of redcurrant, cinnamon, and licorice with forceful fruit structure. Given its exceptional structural core and the decades that have passed, a well-stored bottle will display advanced tertiary characteristics:
• Visuals: An elegant bricking or tile-red color change along the edge of the glass.
• Aromas: Savory and earth-driven notes like cedar, pine, smoke, iron oxide, or dried blood.
• Palate: A dense core of dark cherry or plum fruit framed by mouth-coating, fully polished, velvety tannins and complex balsamic accents.
Serving Suggestion: If you intend to open this bottle, stand it upright for 24 hours beforehand to let any natural sediment settle. Because it is an older vintage, consider decanting it carefully just before serving to let it breathe, monitoring how the aromas evolve over the course of the evening.