Yet again, Rodney Strong has released some solid wines, especially at the value end of the spectrum. The Chalk Hill Chardonnay is a perennial star, and the 2017 Russian River Pinot Noir is especially tasty!

White
90
Rodney Strong 2018 Chardonnay Chalk Hill Sonoma County 13.5% $22
Creamy, juicy and big, this is a classically Californian Chardonnay in its buttery, toasty flavors complementing apples and cinnamon. Vivid acidity, balanced alcohol and a medium finish make this very complete. Great value!
Drink: 2021-23 

Reds
92
Rodney Strong 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Alexander Valley 14.5% $45
A pure, elegant and concentrated expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a delight to taste. The tannins are sophisticated and refined, the acidity is superbly integrated and the layers of flavors continue to unfold in the glass. It's worth decanting the wine to encourage its opening up, even though it drinks well when poured directly from the bottle. Seamless and harmonious, this is a true class act. I love the blueberry preserve finish!
Drink: 2021-26 

92
Rodney Strong 2016 Symmetry Meritage Alexander Valley 14.5% $55
Welcoming with its unctuous black fruit ripeness accompanied by sweet and savory spice tones, this is juicy, easy-going and moreish yet still shows nice complexity. The black plums, black cherries and blackberries swoosh across the medium-plus bodied palate. The tannins are suavely curated and well-placed acidity brings refreshment. The abv heat is noticeable, but it's not distracting. With a minerally and earthy lingering finish, this will please many palates. It's thoroughly drinkable. This is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
Drink: 2021-25 

90
Rodney Strong 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Single Vineyard Alexander Valley 15.75% $75
Bold and berried on the nose, this concentrated, youthful, single vineyard wine delivers flavor, ripeness, weight and alcohol in spades. It's a dynamo to taste, but it frankly would not so easy to drink right now. Nonetheless, it will thrill many palates with its dense layers of blueberry, açai and cassis amped up by flavors of mocha and breakfast syrup. This sees 100% French oak; 54% is new. The gutsy, muscular body is tiresome with its rather lax structure of finely grained tannins and moderate acidity. Rather, the acidity shows two phases. It feels relaxed until the finish, where it creates a spiky, mouthwatering feel that is exaggerated by the lingering alcoholic heat. On a different note, the packaging of this wine is very distinctive and attractive.
Drink: 2022-24 

89
Rodney Strong 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 14.5% $25
Vinous, easy-going and mildly spicy, this is a super gluggable wine. Mild in tannin, medium in body (despite the high-ish 14.5% abv on the label) and showing mild acidity, this is packed with red and black cherries, sprinkled with a truffle undertone. I love that this wine has a few years of bottle age, especially when so many being released onto the market now are far too young.
Drink: 2021-22