About this winery

Rodney Strong Vineyards is dedicated to Sonoma County. The winery was established in 1959 by Rod Strong, one of the first pioneers of the modern wine industry in California, as the 13th bonded winery in Sonoma County. Rick Sayre, current Director of Winemaking, joined in 1979. Since 1989, the winery has been privately owned by the Klein family, a fourth generation California agricultural family. Rodney Strong Vineyards grow and produce wines exclusively from four of Sonoma County's finest...

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Product notes

Rod Strong was among the first modern wine pioneers with a vision to plant Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. In 1968, he planted our heritage River East Vineyard in the alluvial clay-loam soils adjacent to the winery in Healdsburg. Today the Russian River Valley is well established as one of the premier Pinot Noir growing regions in the world, and we continue to rely on the original River East Vineyard as a core contributor to our estate vineyard bottling.

Production notes

The 2021 vintage was mild and dry. Seasonable weather made for very pleasant spring and summer days. Due to the even temperatures, we predicted an early harvest, but we found that the blocks were ripening slow and steady and needed a little more time to ripen than in previous vintages. The cooler climate Dutton Ranch vineyards picked earliest due to lower yields, largely due to a higher percentage of smaller, seedless berries.

Tasting notes

This wine opens with a hint of minerality before notes of ripe strawberry and cherry fruit fill your senses. Toasted marshmallow, baking spice and creamy tones follow in a nod to the choice of oak barrels. The rich mouth is balanced with acidity underpinning flavors of cherry, spice and savory notes. The finish is elegant, showing classic flavors of cherry compote and toasted oak through the end.