2015 Rodney Strong Symmetry

Rodney Strong, in Healdsburg, is named for its founder, who was a classically-trained professional dancer before retiring in 1959 to make wine. Originally from Washington state, Strong and his wife moved to northern California and bought and blended bulk wines to sell under their own label. In 1962 Strong purchased 159 acres in Sonoma County, and within a decade had acquired additional vineyards in the Russian River Valley. In 1989 the estate was purchased by the Klein family and is today still owned and managed by Tom Klein. The estate has grown to more than 500 acres in the Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast. It is known for single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and its reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.