I’ve been a fan of Rodney Strong and their wines for a very long time. Over the years, it’s been obvious that the lion’s share of their portfolio is loaded with genuine Sonoma County Wines. By and large these wines offer excellent value in their respective price tiers. Value is relative. A bottle of wine can be a good value regardless of whether it’s an “expensive” bottle of wine or not. I’ve tasted at least as many “inexpensive” bottles of wine that were terrible values, as pricier ones, truthfully more really.
Because Rodney Strong offers value across multiple price tiers, they’re a very dependable producer to *climb the ladder* with. For example, if you like their Sonoma County Cabernet a lot, and are in the mood for a splurge, you can confidently try one of their AVA specific, Reserve, or Single Vineyard Cabernets with the confidence that your money will be well spent. Their core wines are widely distributed and generally easy to find. For all of these reasons I have been recommending their wines, and Rodney Strong as a producer, for years, with conviction.
So, when I get the opportunity to taste a wine new to their portfolio, I look forward to it. That’s the case today. Their longstanding “Charlotte’s Home” Sauvignon Blanc is one I’ve enjoyed many times, and at the expense of overstating my central point here, it’s been a consistently delicious value. But today we have a more place specific Sauvignon Blanc produced in a different style.
Rodney Strong 2023 Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
Mostly Sauvignon Blanc (94%) with splashes of Semillon (3), and Viognier (3%), it saw fermentation in a combination of Stainless Steel, French Oak, and Concrete Egg. A range of citrus and stone fruits dot the expressive aromatics. Upon sipping I noted lemon verbena, ripe gooseberry and nectarine. Racy acid provides the framework it’s all built on. Hints of flint and spice are part of the picture here too. This lovely, nuanced, and delicious Sauvignon Blanc stands as a distinct offering in the Rodney Strong portfolio. It’s well worth your money.
I paired this Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc with my own take on Eggplant Primavera. The Eggplant was grilled and pickled with a marinade of white balsamic vinegar, olive oil and spice for a few hours. I served it alongside a salad of arugula, tomatoes, feta, and pecans tossed in the same marinade. The acid in the marinade and tomatoes as well as the bold flavors in the feta each brought out the flavors in the wine and vice versa.
Sonoma County is home to many terrific producers of all sizes. Some of them make tiny quantities of excellent wine. Rodney Strong is not a small producer. They are however, a pretty big, and extremely reliable maker of delicious wines that are not hard to find on your local shelf. Get some in your mouth, you’ll be glad you did.