Anthony at Boccaccio Cellars has been raving about this, so I thought I’d better give it a run. The comeback vintage of 2001 was a big hit, and the 2004 is on a similar level. So, I line up the 2004 and 2001, along with the 2004 Roda Reserva after Griff’s call that this is a ‘better’ wine.
I’ve put the note for the 2001 in the ‘From the cellar’ section, but it’s drinking very well at the moment. A few more years in the cellar and it will be a mighty drink. Comparing this wine and Roda Reserva is a bit like comparing a 2005 Burgundy (Roda) to a 2004 Chianti (Marques de Riscal), they are both excellent but different. I favoured the Roda slightly, it is giving a lot more enjoyment at this stage, but I would be very happy to drink either and will put some of both in the cellar. The 04 is the same price as the 01, that’s amazing given what has happened to wine prices in the past 2-3 years.
An almost identical nose to the 2001; cherry and blackberry with brambly herbs, some cigar box and pencil shavings, a touch of mocha. Inviting with rustic charm and complexity. The palate shows plenty of firm tannins and a fine balance between tannin and acid. Savoury cherry and blackberry fruit on the palate with earthy spices: ground liquorice root, cinnamon and nutmeg. Some chocolate and sage shows up on night 2. Gutsy and robust, but also very enjoyable. Very interesting drinking this beside the 2001, they are very similar. Hold for 5 years, then drink over the following 10. 93+ Pts.
Source: Boccaccio Cellars Price: $44 Closure: Conventional Cork
Modernist!
Nice book in the photo there.
cheers
Carl
Give it a couple of years and they’ll be on a similar level…
I like Radford’s writing in this book, he is a bit stuffy and academic in the first couple of chapters but really brings out the people in the bodega profiles. Well worth a read.
I am tempted to write it on Santa’s list.
cheers
Carl
hi dave
you probably be interested to see the guys from elmundovino gave this wine only a score of 12; they critise the lack of fruit and the short finnish
Yeah I saw that. Sounds like a bad bottle. I’ve had a couple of bottles now and lack of fruit and short finish are not two descriptors I’d use.
Strewth! They must be hard markers. Had another bottle recently still think it as good as the Roda Reserva 04 and if you like traditional; better even. May have to have another Roda to check though…
cheers
Carl
Now on special at EU79 for 6 bottles at one of the big department store chains here in Germany. Otherwise, normally you can pick it up for EU16.99. Penfolds Kalimna is EU21.99 in the same chain.
The prices in Europe are nuts,we can only dream of these prices at the moment with the state of the Aussie Dollar.
Actually, I’m quaffing a bottle now from the local supermarket that I picked up for EU13.99.
I have to say that this wine is a bit variable. In order of bottles it was: 1) Great 2) dumb 3) OK 4) great. And the while the last bottle had a crap cork, the acid & bouquet is much better than all the proceeding bottles.
Really, the exchange rate is OK - well could always be better but anyway… it’s the tax!
Oh, and this wine is just not in the Roda league.