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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander's Crown Single Vineyardtext
93POINTS
17¼/20

Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander's Crown Single Vineyard 2016

Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesAlexander’s Crown Cabernet Sauvignon is grown inside the 22-mile-long Alexander Valley AVA, ranging in elevation from 250 to 350 feet. The Alexander’s Crown Vineyard is a cold site when you consider its average daily temperature is 59 degrees Fahrenheit. It certainly explains its more delicate styling. It was first planted in 1971, and was the first single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in the Alexander Valley. The 63-acre site is bathed in cool Pacific Ocean breezes. Only the Block 1 fruit, planted to Clone 4 over the top (crown) 15 acres of well-drained red volcanic soil makes it into the Crown. In 2016 most everything conspired to make it a fabulous year to grow fruit in California, and Sonoma in specific. The replanting of the Crown has paid huge dividends with ripe black and red fruits streaked with dried herbs and floral notes. The texture is opulent for a mountain wine and a cabernet sauvignon, allowing you to drink it now if you must. My advice is to cellar this wine for a decade, to enable it to spread its wings. Indeed, this is the best young Crown I have tasted, and it will only improve in the bottle.Tasted: 23 January 2020Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$94.99750mlBCLS
NS$86.30750mlNSLC
US$75.00750mlsrp
AB$85.95750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate VineyardsDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: Cabernet SauvignonCSPC: 234286UPC: 087512922259