Rodney Strong

Rodney Strong Winery was the 13th bonded winery in Sonoma County back in 1959 making it one of the pioneers of the region's wine industry. Rodney Strong Vineyards grows and produces wines from grapes grown exclusively in Sonoma County's most revered appellations including Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill and Sonoma Coast. In 1989 the Klein Family purchased the winery and it has been family owned and operated ever since. With a long rooted background in California agriculture, their passion for sustainable farming practices, solar power and other green business practices led Rodney Strong to become Sonoma County's first carbon neutral winery. Rodney Strong wines are made from a number of various varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their lines range from the affordable and value driven Sonoma County wines, to their Estate Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley wines, all the way up to their premium Reserve wines. They also offer three single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon selections as well as their Symmetry Bordeaux blend which all tend to earn the highest ratings according to our Rodney Strong ratings. For more information be sure to check out our Rodney Strong reviews listed below.

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Rodney Strong 2006 Rockaway Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $75

Impresses for the sheer power of ripeness, but also and especially for the structure. The flavors of blackberries, cherries, currants, cocoa, herbs and sweetly smoked oak are beautiful and complex, yet the tannin-acid balance is near perfect. This single-vineyard wine is one of the finest Sonoma County Cabernets of the vintage. Should age effortlessly through 2014… — S.H. (2/1/2010)

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Rodney Strong 2004 Symmetry Meritage Red (Alexander Valley)

Price $55

Strong’s Symmetry almost qualifies as a Cabernet Sauvignon, with 71% of that variety, and the rest consisting of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The Meritage labeling identifies it as their supreme bottling of a Bordeaux-style wine. Easily the best Symmetry ever, it is a great wine. Dry and somewhat astringent in tannins, it has an impressively deep core of… — S.H. (7/1/2008)

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Rodney Strong 2005 Symmetry Red Meritage (Alexander Valley)

Price $60

Rodney Strong’s Symmetry is more tannic than their ’05 Reserve Cab, and it also has more complex flavors from being a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties. It shows a deep streak of dark stone fruits, black and blue berries, cassis, carob, violets and smoky cedar. Fine and elegant now, and it should develop nicely over the next decade. — S.H. (12/15/2008)

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Rodney Strong 2007 Rockaway Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $75

Made from 100% Cabernet grown in a hilly part of the valley, this wine is tight and dry in tannins. It’s so astringent, it’s nearly impossible to enjoy now. Yet it’s extraordinarily rich and explosive in blackberry tart, black cherry pie and cassis flavors, and feels dramatic in the mouth. Should easily improve over the next decade. Hold until 2013. — S.H. (5/1/2011)

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Rodney Strong 2007 Symmetry Red Meritage (Alexander Valley)

Price $55

A great Bordeaux-style wine that can stand proudly next to Napa bottlings that cost far more. It’s mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with the other four permitted Meritage varieties, and there seems to be lots of new, sweetly toasted oak. The blackberry, cherry, red currant, mocha and bacon flavors are delicious, but even better is the tannic structure. It’s soft and… — S.H. (12/15/2010)

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Rodney Strong 2007 Brothers Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $75

This nearly 100% Cabernet is strongly flavored, bone dry, very tannic and nowhere near ready. It has a tough, astringent mouthfeel, and the concentrated richness of grapes grown on low-yielding hillsides. Intense flavors of blackberries, black cherries, cassis, cola and herbs mark this fine, ageable wine. Don’t touch it before 2013, and it should ride out many… — S.H. (5/1/2011)

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Rodney Strong 2008 Symmetry Red Meritage (Alexander Valley)

Price $55

Symmetry is Rodney Strong’s most important red wine, the one they pull out all the stops on. It’s usually a hit, and so is this 2008, which is a blend of all five Bordeaux red varieties, but primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s extraordinarily rich in blackberries, plums, blueberries and cassis, with a surprising meatiness, like beef tartare. The mouthfeel is very… — S.H. (5/1/2012)

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Rodney Strong 1997 Reserve Chalk Hill Vyd Chardonnay (Northern Sonoma)

Price $30

This beauty pulls out all the stops. The aromas veer to tropical fruit and banana, with leesy, buttery notes from toasty oak. The flavors are equally strong, and very spicy. Creamy, rich texture. Doesn’t seem to be an ager but sure is delicious now. — S.H. (11/1/1999)

Most Reviewed Designations

Alden Vineyards Alexander's Crown Chalk Hill Charlotte’s Home Estate Estate Vineyards Jane's Vineyard Reserve Knotty Vines Reserve Rockaway Symmetry

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Meritage Merlot Pinot Noir Sauvignon Blanc Zinfandel

2010 Bogle Old Vine

What a delicious Zin this is. Sourced from the warm climates of Lodi and…

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