2015 Cirsion
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Tasting notes
Autumn and winter with lots of rain so the cycle began with enough water. Very cold winter. Spring began fresh but it changed in May, which was really warm and hastened phenological development (flowering 1 June). No rain in May, but because of the winter reserves of water, it did not matter. Rain in June, and July was extremely hot with highs of 35–37 ºC and storms that brought good rainfall. Mild August, with cooler temperatures than usual, but overall a warmer year than 2016. Very early harvest (mid September to 8 October) so as much as 15% Graciano. Fermentation in French oak vats with temperature control. Malo in French oak barriques. Ageing: 8 months in new French oak barriques. Dark crimson. Broad, warm nose – quite velvety somehow. Tannins are more marked than those of 2016. Quite a bit of chew on the end and a little bit more reserved although there is masses of ripe fruit. A bit like 2005 bordeaux in structure. Wait! Very savoury – a hint of Marmite on the finish. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The top of the range is only produced in some vintages, so we are already with the very young 2015 Cirsion—they didn't produce it in 2013 or 2014, so the 2015 is the next vintage after 2012. And starting with the 2012, it seems like the style of Cirsion is going to have a significant percentage of Graciano, at least in the warmer vintages. It is a juicy, layered, hedonistic, spicy and voluptuous modern Rioja from a perfect year for ripeness and with some Mediterranean influence; it might challenge the phenomenal 2005. In this vintage, the blend includes 14% Graciano, which is higher than the 2012, and prior to that, it was only Tempranillo. The selected grapes went through natural fermentation, and they reckon the tannins are ripe enough to only need some eight months in oak, brand new French barrels in this occasion. It's very fruit-driven, heady, ripe, open, aromatic and intoxicating. This is very different from the rest of the wines in the portfolio, a lot more modern, juicy, chewy and, in the last couple of vintages, with the added freshness provided by the Graciano. They think this is a wine that will be long lived in bottle, but most of the bottles are drunk early on, when the profile is exuberant. One day I will have to do a Cirsion vertical... 5,078 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2017.
The top of the range is only produced in some vintages, so we are already with the very young 2015 Cirsion—they didn't produce it in 2013 or 2014, so the 2015 is the next vintage after 2012. And starting with the 2012, it seems like the style of Cirsion is going to have a significant percentage of Graciano, at least in the warmer vintages. It is a juicy, layered, hedonistic, spicy and voluptuous modern Rioja from a perfect year for ripeness and with some Mediterranean influence; it might challenge the phenomenal 2005. In this vintage, the blend includes 14% Graciano, which is higher than the 2012, and prior to that, it was only Tempranillo. The selected grapes went through natural fermentation, and they reckon the tannins are ripe enough to only need some eight months in oak, brand new French barrels in this occasion. It's very fruit-driven, heady, ripe, open, aromatic and intoxicating. This is very different from the rest of the wines in the portfolio, a lot more modern, juicy, chewy and, in the last couple of vintages, with the added freshness provided by the Graciano. They think this is a wine that will be long lived in bottle, but most of the bottles are drunk early on, when the profile is exuberant. One day I will have to do a Cirsion vertical... 5,078 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2017. Feb 2018, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
While being one of the youngest estates in Rioja, Bodegas Roda has quickly become one of its finest and certainly most innovative. The estate was set up in 1987. The name Roda is the contraction of the two owners’ names, Mario Rottlant Solá and Carmen Daurella Aguilera