Winemaker Notes
Enjoy this wine now with beef stew, grilled pork tenderloin or an assortment of roasted vegetables, or cellar for enjoyment for years to come.
Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
The 2019 Symmetry is a wine the Rodney Strong team crafts each year to tell the story of the vintage - a true nod to their ultimate Bordeaux-style blend featuring all five varieties. The 2019 is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), which gives it bold aromas of black licorice, anise, and currants. The long elevage of 24 months in French oak barrels (75% new) adds aromas of baking spices and a touch of vanilla beans. Eucalyptus and dried herbs like bay leaves add a fresh and savoury depth to the fruity flavours on the palate. It’s a rich and elegant wine, finishing long and satisfying.
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Wine Enthusiast
This compelling and intricate Bordeaux blend brings classic currant, blackberry, pencil shaving and black pepper aromas, while the palate displays seamless balance between rich tannin and mouthwatering acidity and flavors of blackberry jam, dark chocolate and cassis. Brilliant now, this will age gracefully for well over a decade.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
The nose is deeply scented and perfumed, with aromas of mulberries, blood plums and pomegranates. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity,giving notes of tobacco leaves, wild blackberries and mocha. Made from a well-integrated blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% malbec, 3% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.
Founded by wine industry pioneer, Rod Strong, in 1959, Rodney Strong Vineyards is now owned by the Kleins, a farming-based family that prides itself on land stewardship and a relentless push for superior wine quality from Sonoma County. After purchasing the company in 1989, Tom Klein began the endeavor that today brings together excellent vineyards, the industry's finest winemaking equipment, and exceptional talent. The winery farms and sources grapes from vineyards throughout Sonoma County, focusing on Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill. Rodney Strong Vineyards is best known for its estate-bottled and vineyard-designated wines, and is also recognized for their sustainable and Fish Friendly Farming, dedication to solar energy production and becoming carbon neutral in 2009.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.