Bodegas Roda Sela Rioja 2024

Rioja DOCa, Spain | 100% Tempranillo

Fresh, elegant and beautifully expressive, Bodegas Roda Sela 2024 showcases the vibrant, fruit-driven side of Rioja. Produced by the highly respected Bodegas Roda, Sela is the youngest wine in the estate's lineup, offering an approachable expression of Tempranillo while maintaining the precision, balance and attention to detail for which the winery is known.

The nose opens with ripe cherries, red berries and fresh plum, accompanied by subtle notes of sage, cedar, sweet spices and delicate minerality. On the palate, juicy red fruit takes center stage, supported by refreshing acidity and fine, silky tannins. The texture is wonderfully smooth and balanced, with a fresh, lingering cherry finish.

Critic Scores

94 Points — Decanter
92 Points — James Suckling
91 Points — Wine Enthusiast

Decanter highlights the wine's juicy plum, cherry and poached pear character, with Earl Grey tea nuances, vibrant freshness and polished tannins. James Suckling praises its bright cherry fruit, subtle spice and harmonious, enveloping texture.

What Makes It Special?

Bodegas Roda was established in 1987 in Haro, the historic heart of Rioja's wine country. The winery has earned an international reputation for producing wines that combine traditional Rioja heritage with a modern approach focused on vineyard expression, precision and elegance.

Sela is produced from sustainable, bush-trained vineyards with an average vine age of 15–30 years. Unlike the estate's more mature Roda Reserva and Roda I wines, Sela is designed to express the freshness and energy of younger Tempranillo, making it enjoyable upon release while retaining the ability to develop in the bottle.

The 2024 Vintage

The 2024 growing season brought a very dry, mild winter, followed by a cooler and wetter summer. Spring frost and challenging weather conditions contributed to one of the smallest harvests in recent years.

The resulting wines are particularly notable for their freshness, elegance and polished tannins, with an aromatic profile that combines ripe and fresh fruit. These characteristics are beautifully reflected in Sela 2024.

Winemaking

The grapes are hand harvested in small 16-kilogram crates and carefully sorted at the winery. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with naturally occurring yeasts in French oak vats, followed by malolactic fermentation.

The wine then ages for 12 months in second-use French oak barrels. Using previously seasoned barrels allows the wine to develop subtle complexity and texture without overpowering its fresh fruit character.

Wine Details

• Producer: Bodegas Roda

• Wine: Sela

• Vintage: 2024

• Appellation: Rioja DOCa

• Region: Rioja, Spain

• Grape: 100% Tempranillo

• Vine Age: 15–30 years

• Viticulture: Sustainable, bush-trained vineyards

• Harvest: Hand harvested and hand sorted

• Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation in French oak vats

• Aging: 12 months in second-use French oak barrels

• Alcohol: 14%

• Serving Temperature: 58–62°F (14–17°C)

• Cellaring: Enjoyable now, with additional bottle-aging potential

Perfect With

Grilled lamb chops, roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, beef empanadas, Spanish chorizo, jamón Ibérico, grilled vegetables, mushroom dishes and Manchego cheese. Its vibrant acidity and silky tannins make it especially versatile with tapas and Mediterranean cuisine.

Style

Medium-Bodied • Fresh • Elegant • Juicy Red Fruit • Cherry • Plum • Subtle Spice • Silky Tannins • Balanced Acidity