Rodney Strong Vineyards/Greg Morthole/Pinot Noirs/

We are staying in Healdsburg tonight.Northern Californian wine country!Before we check in to the dry Creek Inn,We are going to stop by and taste a couple great Pinot Noirs with wine maker Greg Morthole. We are opening two wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards.Let's check out the tasting notes on these wines and then sit back and relax as we learn of these great wines. As a family-owned winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards is committed to doing everything we can to preserve the Earth for generations to come. This means using sustainable practices now. We have gone acre by acre through our estate properties to ensure we are taking every step we can to safeguard this region’s eco-system. We are proud that our solar energy system is one of the largest of any winery in the world, and that we were the first carbon neutral winery in Sonoma County. As we look to the future, we will continue to test and implement the latest sustainable practices. By doing so, we not only improve the quality of life in the community around us, we ensure exceptional wines in the glass. our first wine is the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Grown in some of the coolest areas within the Sonoma Coast region, this traditionally made Pinot Noir aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, a third of them new. This mediumbodied wine starts with aromas of pomegranate, cola, raspberry and spice, with crisp acidity and vibrant fruit and spice fl avors that fi nish smooth and silky. History Situated in the Southern and Western end of Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast is a distinct region that is directly infl uenced by the Pacifi c Ocean and is known to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of exceptional complexity with true varietal and terroir characteristics unique to the region. Sonoma Coast’s climate means the region is ideally suited to cold-climate viticulture, encouraging the full expression of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are very different to those from warmer regions. Our Pinot Noir comes from two distinct areas of Sonoma Coast — a majority from Green Valley and the remainder from Petaluma Gap. Green Valley is known to be the coldest area within the AVA with a strong coastal climate infl uence due to constant fog in the miles near the Pacifi c Ocean and the channel created to bring that fog further inland via the Russian River and Petaluma Gap. Combined with its unique soil type — Goldridge, Green Valley Pinot Noir exhibits unique characteristics true to coolclimate Sonoma Coast and our vineyards within Green Valley help us create an exemplary medium-bodied, acidic, elegant Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. 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 without heat spikes, and a warm, rain free autumn that allows for picking all varieties in their turn when they are perfectly mature. This Pinot Noir was harvested from vineyards in Sonoma Coast between September 11th and September 17th. Now on to the reserve Pinot Noir from Rodney Strong Vineyards. The 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir has wonderful aromas of dark cherry, plum and dark raspberry accompanied by clove and cinnamon baking spice notes on the palate. The wine is lush and rich, with a silky textured mouthfeel and well-balanced acidity. Food pairings Enjoy this wine now with roasted root vegetables, mushroom lasagna, roasted turkey with a cherry-plum chutney, or cellar for enjoyment over the next 4 to 6 years. The Vineyards A mild, dry winter followed by a replenishing amount of rain in February and early March of 2014 encouraged the vine buds to push a little earlier than normal. The spring was warm, dry and frost free, thankfully, as the yields were already a little lower than average. Overcast days became the norm in late July and August, helping to preserve acidity in the fruit, although the 2014 growing season would eventually register as the warmest in many years. We picked three different vineyards in the Russian River Valley to make this wine, all of which were picked between August 26 and September 3. Most of the fruit came from the Santa Rosa plain, but a little bit came from two vineyards farther to the east, with the smallest piece up at 900 feet elevation, which added structure and complexity to the finished wine. Let's pour a glass of each wine and listen to Greg tell us more about these two beautiful wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards!cheers! Click here and listen to Greg Morthole tell us of two great wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards.