Sonoma County Cabernets/Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards/ Alexander Valley and Knights Valley

The weekend is here and it's time for a great feast and also wines from Rodney Strong.Today we are opening two great Cabernets from Alexander Valley and Knights Valley.First let's look at the tasting notes and a little background on these fine wines. Rodney Strong was one of the pioneers of Sonoma County’s modern wine industry, an acknowledged visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines. A successful dancer before retiring and turning to his second love, winemaking, Rodney Strong established Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery in 1959. The history of Rodney Strong Vineyards has roots that stretch back more than 100 years; a tale of families in pursuit of an abiding passion: wine. “There are no shortcuts when it comes to making world-class wines. It requires great vineyards. It demands a committed, passionate winemaking team. And it calls for an investment in craftsmanship. We’ve gathered it all here at Rodney Strong. No Shortcuts. It’s my family’s commitment.” - Tom Klein, Proprietor Our first wine is the 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet. A powerful Cabernet from the hillsides of Alexander Valley, this wine is lush with blackberries, dark plum, and chocolate. The notes of dried herbs, black pepper and minerality reflect the terroir of the Alexander Valley. The soft, supple, and mature tannins give this wine a strong backbone, while the 18 months of barrel aging have softened the wine enough to enjoy now. FOOD PAIRINGS Pair this wine with herb crusted pork loin, grilled vegetables, a Gruyère cheese and mushroom topped burger, or cellar for enjoyment over the next three to five years. HISTORY Rod Strong recognized the Alexander Valley as an ideal place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon as far back as 1971, when he planted our first Cabernet vineyard on a hill known as Alexander’s Crown. Today we proudly farm four different estate vineyards on the benches and hillsides above the valley floor, where Cabernet displays the finest expression of the Alexander Valley terroir. THE VINEYARDS Early winter showers were followed by a warm, dry beginning to the new growing season, setting the stage for an early bud break. Alternating overcast days and heat waves continued through spring and summer, with a particularly hot period in late June, and an unseasonal rain in July. We harvested the grapes at peak ripeness from September 3 through October 8 under ideal conditions. We will also open the 2016 Knights Valley Cabernet.I really enjoy this wine and the wines from this valley. WINEMAKING NOTES The 2016 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is deeply colored and bursting with aromas of crushed blackberries, spicy dark plum, dusty cocoa powder, cassis and wild raspberry. The complex layers of spice, red fruit and chocolate on the palate are framed in rich, velvety tannins with a long lingering finish. FOOD PAIRINGS Enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon now with braised short ribs, beef ravioli or lamb shanks, or cellar it to enjoy over the next 3 to 5 years. HISTORY Protected from direct Pacific Ocean influence, Knights Valley is the easternmost Sonoma County appellation, known for its warm days and cool nights and is the warmest viticultural region in the county. The valley lies between the Alexander Valley and Chalk Hill wine regions to the west and is situated at the foot of Mount St. Helena to the north. The valley’s beauty and mineral-rich volcanic soils make it well suited to quality viniculture. THE VINEYARDS Knights Valley is a rustic and undeveloped hidden gem of volcanic rock and alluvial soils that are perfect for growing Bordeaux-style wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 growing season was about as close to ideal as we couldve asked for. We received an average amount of rain over winter, with only one big storm in early March that topped off soil moisture. Spring was pleasant, so the vines got off to a great start. Average temperatures continued through summer with the occasional heat spike that Cabernet Sauvignon seems to love. Warm temperatures continued through the fall which meant harvest started about a week earlier than normal. Harvest kicked off around mid-September through October 8 under ideal conditions. We will now pour you a glass of each of these world class wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards and join Greg Morthole as we learn more about these wines.anyone hungry?? click on the link below and join us!Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy the wines of Rodney Strong Vineyards .