Even if it was "an awful vintage" with mildew decimating the crops, rain during the vintage and all the horrors you want to imagine, the 1997 Roda I Reserva is still standing. Agustín Santolaya decided to open it because he sees some similarities with 2013 and wanted me to see the development. It has an orangey, developed color and a tertiary, balsamic nose, with notes of iron rust, leather, autumn leaves, iodine, brick dust and dried flowers; it is very classical Rioja, quite advanced but still holding it. The palate is polished, but the acidity is clearly holding the wine. It's amazing that this wine is already 20 years old. This has a Burgundian, developed and elegant profile.