Rodney Strong Wines Includes:

One Bottle of 2018 Chalk Hill Chardonnay

Once Bottle of 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

WINEMAKING NOTES

Our 2018 Chalk Hill Chardonnay boasts toasty vanilla and spice due to time spent in seasoned French oak barrels during fermentation. During the 11 months of barrel aging, we regularly stirred the lees in barrel, which imparts an elegant fullness and creamy texture on the palate. In the glass, the wine is both creamy and crisp, with flavors of golden pear, vanilla, Meyer lemon and a hint of minerality on the long finish. Enjoy over the next one to three years with soft cheeses, fresh crab or roasted pork loin.

FOOD PAIRINGS:  Enjoy over the next one to three years with a gourmet cheese plate, creamy vegetable pasta or grilled halibut.

HISTORY

In 1965, our founder Rod Strong was the first to plant Chardonnay in what would later be recognized as the Chalk Hill American Viticultural Area (AVA), established officially in 1983. He recognized the region as distinct from the rest of Russian River Valley for its unique, volcanically-derived, chalky white ash soils, which impart a subtle mineral character to wines grown there.

THE VINEYARDS

Storms in late winter gave the vines plenty of water that they would need in the early spring. Warm days from late winter into spring induced the vines into bud break a little earlier than normal. The weather alternated between cool and warm periods throughout the summer, with a few heat spells here and there. Verasion came in July, and sugars slowly accumulated in the berries with the warm sunny days leading up to harvest. We walked each vineyard block, sampling berries, noting the changes in the acid, sugar and tannin levels, as well as looking for the signs that vines give when the fruit is ripe and the vineyard ready to be picked. Harvest commenced as the fruit from each block tasted optimally ripe and delicious.

APPELLATION:

Chalk Hill

VARIETAL:

Chardonnay

ALCOHOL:

13.5%

WINEMAKING NOTES
Our 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with dark cherry, plum and baking spices. The delicious fruit is accompanied by black pepper notes, crushed violet and cassis. The palate has medium tannins, lingering spicy oak flavors with a velvety lush finish. 

FOOD PAIRINGS
Enjoy this Cabernet now with a grilled steak, rack of lamb or grilled winter vegetables.

HISTORY
Rodney Strong recognized in the late 1960s that Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley was an exceptional area for heat loving Cabernet Sauvignon. He planted our first Cabernet vineyard in 1971, Alexander’s Crown, on a small hill in Jimtown, and the reputation for fine Sonoma County Cabernet has never looked back. Today we have three exceptional Cabernet vineyards, from Jimtown, to Geyserville, and all the way north to Cloverdale, planted in the well-drained alluvial, volcanic, and uplifted shale/sandstone soils that make Sonoma County an ideal place for this noble grape.

THE VINEYARDS
The 2018 growing season was dry through spring with well below normal precipitation. Cooler weather dominated this vintage with only two short, relatively mild heat spikes through the entire growing season. Summer days were very pleasant in Sonoma County with highs in the 70s and 80s and with August having even warmer temperatures. With everything in balance, we harvested September 13 through October 30.

 

APPELLATION:
Sonoma County

VARIETAL:
Cabernet Sauvignon

ALCOHOL:
14.5%

TA:
0.58 g/100mL

PH:
3.69

CELLAR & FERMENTATION:
16 months in French & American oak, 20% new

Donated by Rodney Strong Vineyards

Sourced by Cheryl Stern

Plan to pick up the items you won on Sunday, July 4, 2021 between the hours of 9 am to 11 am.  The location for Curbside Pick-up is 33540 Loop Road at the Community Services Building.

Auction items containing alcohol must be picked up no later than July 15, 2021.  Please bring your ID when picking these up.

If you are not in Kirkwood your items will be stored at the Community Services Building until September 4, 2021.  Please email JGillies@kmpud.com to arrange for a date and time for pick up.

Small items such as Gift Cards will be mailed to you at your residence address after July 5,2021.

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