Rioja Roda Reserva, Bodegas Roda 2012

The eponymous 2012 Roda was cropped from a very dry year that resulted in very low yields and very healthy grapes. The blend is similar to the 2011 and, in this case, is 89% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano and 2% Garnacha; like all the wines, it fermented in French oak vats with indigenous yeasts. It matured in French oak barrels—40% new, the rest second use—for 14 months. It's a balanced and gentle wine, even if it was the second dry year in a row, but the plants were adapting, with very short shoots and very small bunches. With low yields, the grapes ripened early and kept very good balance. For Agustín Santolaya, there is some connection with the 2006 vintage, which was a balanced year, perhaps not a great one but very pleasant and approachable. Licorice is always a recurring note in vintages like this. 111,239 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2014. Drink 2018-2022.