Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
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Decanter
Sweet, generous, exuberant nose, black olives and dark chocolate as well as blackcurrant. Rich and succulent, full-bodied, chocolatey, lavish fruit that’s very concentrated. Tannins are nicely integrated and overall this shows some elegance, ripeness and weight. Very long.
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Tasting Panel
Mesmerizing scents of Worcestershire, plum, jasmine, and baking spices equate to love at first whiff. Energetic and vibrant, with an innately bold character, this wine showcases the plush tannins we adore from Alexander Valley with grace. The fruit, sourced from four estate vineyards situated on benches and hillsides, offers sleek and well-defined notes of chicory, Bing cherry, dates, and plum. Winemaker Justin Seidenfeld added in touches of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec and aged the wine 18 months in 41% new French oak.
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Wine & Spirits
This wine’s red fruit shows some green-herb notes when first opened, a brisk, bright counter to its velvety richness. A day later, that greenness retreats, leaving a gentle, clean cabernet with touches of ancho-chile spice. Best Buy
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet delivers attractive ripeness and pleasing rewards on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits expansive aromas and flavors of black fruit and oak. Enjoy with well-marbled, grilled tri-tip. (Tasted: May 27, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Founded by wine industry pioneer, Rod Strong, in 1959, Rodney Strong Vineyards is now owned by the Kleins, a farming-based family that prides itself on land stewardship and a relentless push for superior wine quality from Sonoma County. After purchasing the company in 1989, Tom Klein began the endeavor that today brings together excellent vineyards, the industry's finest winemaking equipment, and exceptional talent. The winery farms and sources grapes from vineyards throughout Sonoma County, focusing on Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill. Rodney Strong Vineyards is best known for its estate-bottled and vineyard-designated wines, and is also recognized for their sustainable and Fish Friendly Farming, dedication to solar energy production and becoming carbon neutral in 2009.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.