Sonoma County/Rodney Strong Symmetry/Expressions of Greatness

We have featured the wines of Rodney Strong for years.Today we are enjoying "Symmetry",a wine blended and mastered by the wine making team at Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery Let's check out the tasting notes and a little history,and then we have a date to join a great local chef.Food and wine at it's best here on "Have Wine Will Travel"! WINEMAKING NOTES The 2013 Symmetry is a luxurious bouquet of blackberries, black cherry, plum and crushed lavender which unfold on the palate with silky layers of black fruits, dark chocolate covered espresso beans and baking spices. This wine is rich, harmonious and elegant with a long, lingering finish. Enjoy this wine now with a Beef Bourguignon, a lamb roast or a roasted vegetable tart or cellar for enjoyment for years to come. FOOD PAIRINGS Enjoy this wine now with a Beef Bourguignon, a lamb roast or a roasted vegetable tart. HISTORY With over 40 years of experience growing classic French grape varieties in Alexander Valley, we select our best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other traditional Bordeaux grapes from the hills that overlook the valley, where well-drained rocky soils combine with warm, sunny days and cool nights to provide ideal growing conditions. Select areas within each vineyard are hand harvested, fermented separately and aged in the finest French oak barrels. After about six months, each lot is tasted and graded; only the highest graded wines are considered for Symmetry. The blend is then assembled, and the wine is returned to barrels to facilitate flavor integration. The wine is aged an additional 12 to 20 months, before bottling. THE VINEYARDS 2013 was the kind of growing season that most would wish we could have every year; a dry, frost-free spring, a warm summer with minimal heat spikes, and a warm rain free autumn that allowed for picking the fruit perfectly mature. Warm days with cool evenings prevailed in September which kept sugar accumulation at an even pace and left acidity in the grapes. We harvested our Cabernet Sauvignon from September 13 through 24, and our Merlot on September 23. We waited an extra few weeks to pick the Petit Verdot at optimal ripeness on October 3, 7 and 8, and the Malbec on October 9. The Cabernet Franc came from two vineyards. The Alexander Valley Cabernet Franc was picked early, on September 10, while the Knight's Valley Cabernet Franc came in on October 8. Please join us as we open this beautiful wine from Rodney Strong Vineyards and winery! Cheers! Click here and join us,we saved you a seat!.