Ron Rubin makes not only wine but also tea with Republic of Tea. That certainly offered some level of confidence when I agreed to taste the wines. This guy clearly knows how to taste! 

For Ron Rubin, his namesake winery and vineyard in the Green Valley subzone of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is a dream come true, acquired 40 years after Ron wrapped up his studies at UC Davis. A vintner and self-styled “beverage guy,” Ron’s intent is to make affordable, accessible, all-round “beautiful experiences” (a favorite expression), i.e. Sonoma wines to be consumed and enjoyed. The prospect of making high-priced, super-limited-production, hard-to-find wines is not what makes Ron tick. For the rest of us, that translates into beautiful wines you can feel good about buying: The Ron Rubin Winery is SIP-certified (Sustainability in Practice -- the gold standard for sustainable vineyard, winery and wine certification), and Certified Sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

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Ron Rubin Winery 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 14.3% $25
This wine is classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir...save the price tag. Deep ruby at the core with a nose of black cherries, plums, cola and ganache, this is juicy, fresh and mouthfilling with absolutely no heaviness. The palate brings on licorice and a hint of peat. Seriously drinkable thanks to its very good balance brought by very vaguely dry tannins and just-right acidic lift.
Drink: 2021-23 

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Ron Rubin Winery 2020 Pam's Unoaked Chardonnay California 12.5% $14
Soft on the attack, this lush, juicy Chardonnay hails from vineyards in Clarksburg and Lodi. While not seeing any oak - as it says on the label, it does have a surprisingly smoking note. Its robust flavors include pineapple and roasted pears. The finish is swift and pleasantly dry, even if the wine's palate feel turns stringy and clingy.
NB This wine has a surprisingly high 3.78 pH!
Drink: 2021-22