Rodney Strong and the Alexander Valley of Sonoma
I first laid eyes on the Alexander Valley of Sonoma a couple of years ago and when I did, I was astounded at its beauty, but more than that, it was the only place on earth that I had been to where the air was full of the perfume of grapes. It was a heady mix of cabernet sauvignon, cab franc, zinfandel and merlot.
The valley was carpeted with grapevines, ready to be picked and treated like royalty by the brilliant winemakers of Sonoma. The soil is well-drained and volcanic in color, ideal growing conditions for a Bordeaux style varietal. Into this garden, the winemaker of Rodney Strong Vineyards, Rick Sayre, carefully chooses his crop and hand-harvests only the best for his premium blend: Symmetry Meritage from the Alexander Valley.
The current release is the 2004, where it was recently showcased at the Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park, San Diego. He also previewed the ’05 which was equally impressive. The ‘04 sells for $55 on the winery’s website. Rick was present and revealed that Rodney Strong next year would be celebrating its 50th anniversary in Sonoma. Rick himself will also be celebrating his 30th anniversary at the vineyard, next year. Rick is the consummate farmer.
He brings grapes to their highest form of perfection and his signature triumph is the Symmetry blend, which can slightly change in ratio from year to year, depending on his expertise in judging which of his cab, merlot and cab franc grapes are best for a particular vintage. The layers of opulent blackberries, dark plum and sweet spices seem always to distinguish Symmetry no matter the year. The Alexander Valley has helped produce world-class wines for Rodney Strong.
Yet the winery sources from 12 estate owned vineyards from four appellations within Sonoma: in addition to the Alexander Valley, others include Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast. Other wines paired with the wine dinner at the Prado included a divine 2006 Pinot Noir, a 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, an exceptional 2006 Chardonnay, and a 2004 Port. The vineyard headquarters in Sonoma is open for tours daily at 11am and 3pm.
Tasting room hours are daily 10am to 5pm. For more, see their website: www.rodneystrong.com. Great Tastes of Wine The following wines have been recently tasted and declared as EXCELLENT!
• Joseph Drouhin Burgundy (Pinot Noir) 2006. $22.00. Elegant palate pleasing mouthfeel. Traditional Pinot.
• Orfila Vineyards, Edna Valley Chardonnay Ambassador’s Reserve 2006. $24. San Diego County’s wine ambassador offers rich flavors from his French-oak style.
• Tablas Creek Esprit De Beaucastel blend, Paso Robles, 2005. $45. Rhone style estate grown blend with 44% Mourvedre, 26% Grenache and 25% Syrah. Scented perfumes of Rhone grapes.
• D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz Australia (half bottle) 2002. $51. Available at the newly remodeled Humphreys in San Diego. A jolly great wine with an equally fetching story behind the name. More on this and other Humphreys wines next column.
• DiStefano Washington State Syrah R blend. 2003. $24.99. 94% Syrah with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier. Big medal winner for this Columbia Valley product.
The Local Sip
? The annual “Drink Yourself Blind” event is planned for Friday, May 23 from 4 to 9pm at Bacchus Wine Market downtown San Diego. You will “brown bag” some 8 wines and guess the grape in each. $15. Call 619-236-0005 for more info.
? The Westgate Hotel downtown San Diego is kicking off their spring-summer events with a “La Dolce Vita” wine dinner spotlighting the lovely wines of Feudi di San Gregorio on Thursday, May 29. The program begins at 6pm with a champagne reception, dinner at 6:30pm. $89 per person. RSVP at 619-557-3755.
? Sunday, May 25 the Slow Food (read healthy) organization has a wine and food benefit at Leonesse Cellars in Temecula with a 1 to 5pm time. Taste farmer-grown fresh foods with wine and beer and live entertainment. $65 pp. More info call 951-694-FOOD
? Also in Temecula, the popular Allie’s Tapas au Vin Wine Bar and Café has a new menu and a Happy Hour daily from 3pm to 6pm. Generous discounts on wines by the glass and tapas. Details call 951-695-8620.
Frank Mangio is a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator. He is one of the top five wine commentators on the web. Reach him at mangiompc@aol.com.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
