This shows aromas of crushed dark berries, subtle spices and a hint of violets. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with precise, chalky tannins and very elegant, almost ethereal yet clearly defined and linear dark fruit, while the tannins become more expansive and polished toward the finish. It is a good expression of the vintage, shaped by a growing season of abundant rainfall and low average temperatures, with an emphasis on elegance and refinement. Drink or hold.
96 points, Jacobo García Andrade, James Suckling (Apr 2026)
With their know-how, excellent vineyards and the superb vintage, they created a brilliant 2021 Roda I, one of the finest ever. It has a harmonious and complex nose of ripe black fruit, aromatic herbs and dry flowers, spicy and elegant. It feels extremely young and undeveloped, with terrific balance and a medium- to full-bodied palate with fine tannins and structure. It's built for the long haul. It's 95% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 1% Garnacha with traditional parameters in this wine, 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.64 and 5.6 grams of acidity. It was made by time, 16 months in 50% new and 50% second-use French barriques and 30 months in bottle. A total of 151,797 bottles were produced, not a small volume for the quality. It was bottled in July 2023.
95 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Mar 2026)
Showing the finesse of the vintage, the 2021 Roda I (92% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 3% Garnacha) was aged 16 months in French oak (one-third new). Ripe black plum, delicate violet and subtle blackberry lead the way, while hints of pennyroyal and lavender add lift. Rather than dominate, oak plays a structural role. On the palate, it is broad and polished, with fine-grained tannins and a lightly chalky sensation that captures the nuance of 2021 beautifully. Balanced and cellar-worthy, it should gain complexity in bottle.
95 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Apr 2026)