R. Parker (95/100)
The new single-vineyard red 2017 La Rodeda is from a plot they didn't know the name of until they found out through the new maps created by the appellation. This plot used to go to the Mas d'en Caçador bottling (as it's in the same zone), but as they got more vines in the Mas d'en Caçador proper, they decided to bottle it separately. What sets this vineyard apart is that it's planted with mostly Garnacha Peluda, a particular strain of Garnacha that is said to be more rustic but often delivers more delicate wines. 2017 was one of the most extreme and warm years together with 2012, but they didn't suffer from the frost of that year. The vines are about 80 years of age, planted on laminated black slate, and they were hand harvested. They took away all the overripe grapes and put the whole clusters to ferment with their natural yeasts once they were foot trodden in an oak vat, and the wine matured in barrel where it also underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine aged in one new barrel, and the oak is almost unnoticeable, such is the power of the wine. It has lots of energy, with abundant fine-grained tannins and a very long finish. Unfortunately, there are only 300 bottles in this first vintage. It was bottled in April 2019.