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Artisan.wine · Bodegas Roda · Rioja & Ribera
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The Vega Sicilia of the modern era
If Vega Sicilia
made Rioja —
it would be Bodegas Roda.
The world doesn't know that... for now.
Same family stewardship. Same obsessive vineyard selection. Same decades-long aging arc. A fraction of the price. Three Bodegas Roda allocations have just landed at Artisan.
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Dear Wine Lover,
Spain has one undisputed great house. Vega Sicilia — founded in 1864 in Ribera del Duero, single-vineyard fanaticism, oak aging that runs to a decade in cask plus years in bottle, current-release Unico that retails $400 to $700 a bottle. The standard against which every other serious Spanish red is measured.
If a modern Spanish house has earned the right to be mentioned in that conversation, it is Bodegas Roda. Founded in 1987 in Haro — the historic Rioja Alta capital — Roda built its reputation on the same playbook that made Vega Sicilia: a singular focus on old-vine Tempranillo, parcel-by-parcel vinification, deeply patient barrel and bottle aging before release, and a refusal to release a vintage that doesn't earn the label. Their sister estate La Horra, founded in 2009, brought that same approach to Ribera del Duero itself — right in Vega Sicilia's home appellation.
The result: wines that drink like Vega Sicilia and age like Vega Sicilia — for one-quarter to one-tenth the cost. We have three of them in stock right now.
✦ ✦ ✦
A Collector's Deep Dive
The Attorney Somm on Bodegas Roda.
Watch his deep-dive collector's guide before the rest of the world catches on.
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Attorney Somm · YouTube Review
"Bodegas Roda — What Every Wine Collector Needs to Know."
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The Attorney Somm's review frames the house exactly as the collector's market sees it: this is the modern Spanish address worth knowing — before the rest of the market catches on.
The Three Wines
A flagship Reserva. A Ribera "junior Unico." A unicorn white.
All three score 92 to 97 points across every major publication.
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The Flagship Reserva
12 Bottles · JS 97
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Bodegas Roda · Haro, Rioja Alta
"Roda I" Rioja Reserva DOCa 2019
Rioja DOCa · Tempranillo (with a small portion of Graciano)
Roda's flagship cuvée — sourced from bush vines over 30 years old in Haro and surrounding villages, yields capped at 1.5 kg per vine. Spontaneously fermented in French oak vats, then aged 16 months in 50% new French oak followed by 20 months in bottle before release. Only 500 cases imported to the U.S.
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97Suckling
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94Advocate
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94Tim Atkin
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94Decanter
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93Spectator
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97 Points · James Suckling
"Immense depth and exuberance here. Fine spices, dark plums, fresh blackberries, blueberries, graphite and crushed stones. Naturally concentrated, broad, vertical and full-bodied, but still fluid and linear. Crumbled, dusty tannins grow on the palate, leading it to a juicy, tightly wound finish that goes on and on. One of the best Roda I? Drinkable now upon decanting, but much better from 2025."
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93 Points · Wine Spectator · Drink Now Through 2040
"Long and supple, this harmonious red offers flavors of ripe black cherry and currant laced with cocoa powder, dried thyme, violet, mineral and smoked paprika notes. Its refined structure is framed by fine-grained, muscular tannins and balsamico-infused acidity. 500 cases imported."
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$84.99
Per bottle · 12 in stock
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The Ribera del Duero — Vega Sicilia's Own Backyard
12 Bottles · JS 96
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La Horra (Bodegas Roda) · Burgos
"Corimbo I" Reserva 2018
Ribera del Duero · 100% Tinta del País (Tempranillo)
The closest direct comparison to Vega Sicilia in this email — same appellation, same grape, same philosophy. Bodegas Roda established La Horra in 2009 specifically to bring its winemaking obsession to Ribera del Duero. The Corimbo I is the estate's stellar bottling: 100% Tinta del País from 70+ year-old organic, dry-farmed bush vines, hand-picked in 16 kg crates, hand-sorted, 16 months in 80% French / 20% American barrique.
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96Suckling
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95Decanter
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95Tim Atkin
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94+Advocate
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93Vinous
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96 Points · James Suckling
"A combination of complexity and vibrancy of fruit, but the depth is impressive, with lots of dark plums, smoked meat, cocoa powder, spiced black cherries, graphite, dark minerals and roasted spices. Full-bodied and structured but juicy, with more of a chalky texture. Long and bright. Drink from 2025."
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95 Points · Decanter · Almudena Alberca MW · Drink 2025–2038
"Perfumed cherry jam and black forest fruit with layers of toast and sweet baking spices. Smooth texture, framed by powdery tannins, supporting the intensity of the fruit as well as the savoury depth. Persistent and expressive. Very approachable and seductive now but with significant cellaring potential."
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$79.99
Per bottle · 12 in stock
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The Unicorn White
Only 5 Bottles · JS 96
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Bodegas Roda · Haro, Rioja Alta
"Roda I" Blanco 2022
Rioja DOCa · Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía de Rioja
The first white wine ever made at Bodegas Roda — "a wine that emerges after years of tests and tastings," in the winery's own words. Old-vine Viura with small inclusions of Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía, planted on the most eroded, poorest soils of Haro. Macerated in French oak vats, fermented in French oak bocoys, then aged 18 months in barrel + 18 months in bottle before release.
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96James Suckling
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93Wine Advocate
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92Decanter
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96 Points · James Suckling
"Fine spices with a mineral edge to the roasted pineapple, yellow nectarines, pomelo and salted cream. Nice phenolics with full body, fresh yet creamy acidity and a long, textured finish. Viura, garnacha blanca and malvasia. One of the best out there. Drink now."
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93 Points · Wine Advocate · Luis Gutiérrez
"A powerful blend of Viura with small percentages of Malvasía Riojana and Garnacha Blanca that hits the scale at 14.5% alcohol and basically has the weight of a red but keeps very good freshness and acidity. It comes from the higher part… of multiple vineyards, and matured in 500-liter French oak barrels for 17 months."
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$99.99
Per bottle · only 5 in stock
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The Insider's Math
A fraction of the price of the names you're being compared to.
Pour a bottle of Roda I or Corimbo I next to its appellation-mates at the high end of the price ladder, and the comparison gets uncomfortable for the prestige names quickly. Same grape. Same patient oak and bottle aging. Same decades-long drinking window. Different price.
| Spanish reference |
Approx. retail |
| Vega Sicilia Único (current release)
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$400–$700+ |
| Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5° (second wine)
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$200–$300 |
| Pingus / La Faraona / Aalto PS |
$200–$1,500+ |
| ★ Bodegas Roda / La Horra (this email)
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$79.99–$99.99 |
Approximate U.S. retail; varies by merchant and vintage. The point: same conversation, different ZIP code on the price tag.
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Why now.
Roda I 2019 was imported to the U.S. at 500 cases total. The Corimbo I 2018 was produced at fewer than 32,000 bottles for the world. The Blanco at five bottles in stock here. Bodegas Roda doesn't make a junior label; there are no "second wines" to fall back on when these clear. Add to that the wine-trade chatter the Attorney Somm's video captures — "What Every Wine Collector Needs to Know" — and the move is obvious: lock in the bottles you want before the collectors who watched the video do.
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The full allocation
Three Bodegas Roda wines.
One Vega Sicilia–caliber house.
Roda I Reserva (JS 97). La Horra Corimbo I (JS 96). Roda I Blanco (JS 96). The same style, longevity, and obsessive winemaking that defines Spain's greatest house — at $79.99 to $99.99.
Roda I Reserva $84.99 · Corimbo I $79.99 · Roda I Blanco $99.99
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All my best,
James Tran
Artisan.wine
P.S. If you've ever wanted to taste the Vega Sicilia philosophy without the Vega Sicilia tab, this is the email — the Roda I Blanco is down to five, and we don't expect it to be here next week. Questions? Text 650-880-3553.
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Artisan.wine
artisan.wine
Chat → artisan.wine/?chat · Email → sales@artisan.wine
Text → 650-880-3553 · Phone → 650-917-8080
Please enjoy responsibly · Must be 21+ · Allocation limited; pricing & availability subject to change
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