The May/June issue of Mutineer Magazine will be on shelves any day now, including my Wine Steals column. In this issue I do a roundup of sauvignon blanc from California and Chile, including this one from Rodney Strong.
Wine is an interesting thing when it comes to brands. There are so many of them, that the options are nearly endless. And for me, a few brands stand out in my mind that I have an affinity toward. It’s not that they are necessarily better than other brands, but they’re connected with memories. I imagine the same is true for other folks too. Rodney Strong is one of those brands for me.
Back in the mid 1990’s, a Rodney Strong cabernet sauvignon was one of the first wines of quality that I tasted. Sure, I had tasted a number of crappy wines before that one. But when I tasted the Rodney Strong, I knew there was more to wine than the plonk I had been drinking. It was a pivotal moment in my wine appreciation. Since then, I always get a good feeling when I come across a bottle of Rodney Strong—even if there may be better wines right next to it. It’s a personal connection. And I think those personal connections are an important part of enjoying wine. You shouldn’t like or dislike something just because I, or any other reviewers, say it’s good or bad. If you have a personal connection to a wine that makes it more enjoyable to you, then embrace that.
Now that I’ve revealed my affinity and bias for Rodney Strong, I should make it clear that I tasted this particular bottle in a blind tasting. Therefore, I didn’t know what it was when I tasted it and my bias could not influence the review.
This wine shows the softer side of sauvignon blanc, with cooling fruit aromas like cantelope and mango. But it also has an edge to it with a lemon aroma revealing the acid in this wine. That acidity is perfect on the palate, which offers crisp apple, pear and lime flavors. The finish is farily long with apple and citrus flavors lingering on your tongue for some time. This is a good sauvignon blanc, particularly if you prefer a gentler style of this wine.
Wine: Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 87
Price: $11.00