The 2018 Sonoma County Merlot is lush with notes of blackberry, fig compote and cassis. Medium bodied with soft tannins, this wine boasts toasty oak and spice on the mid-palate punctuated by a full and lively finish. These luscious dark fruit and toasty flavors are enhanced by aging in French oak barrels.\n \n Producer Information\n Rodney Strong Vineyards is a Sonoma County winery deeply rooted in the rise of the Sonoma and greater California wine industries. Founder Rodney Strong is often regarded as a pioneer of Sonoma wine with several significant regional firsts associated with him and the winery. The winery is now one of the largest operations in the region and boasts a number of brands and collections at a range of price points and styles. These mostly cover common California varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Strong, a former professional dancer, founded the winery in 1959, initially buying bulk wine to be bottled and sold under the label Tiburon Vintners. In 1962, Strong bought a winery and vines and formed Windsor Vineyards, eventually changing its name to Rodney Strong Vineyards. It was the first winery to produce single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon out of Alexander Valley and a Chalk Hill-designated Chardonnay. It was also one of the earliest cultivators of Pinot Noir in Sonoma. In 1989, the Klein family, fourth-generation winemakers, bought Rodney Strong Vineyards (after a succession of corporate owners and name changes since the company was first sold in 1974). Klein kept Strong on as a consultant until the latter's retirement in 1995. The winery now has 14 estate vineyards and has a commitment to environmentally friendly practices. While its catalog of wines is large, its successes have been from the Burgundy and Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and these remain the backbone of its production. The company also boasts a portfolio of brands including Knotty Vines, Davis Bynum, Upshot Wines and Rowen Wine Company. In 2013, Rodney Strong Vineyards was named winery of the year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Strong himself died in 2006.
