Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2018

Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Reservetext

92POINTS

17/20

Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States2018 will long be remembered for the quality of the fruit, thanks to a cool summer and lack of heat spikes. By the fall, the cool weather had delayed the picking for nearly an entire month compared to 2017, and the longer hang time resulted in larger yields and more complex flavours. This year the harvest ran October 9-24. What I like most about this 79% Sonoma County, 21% Alexander Valley cab, hand-harvested, fermented separately and aged in the finest French oak, is that it tastes like a reserve. Dense, deep, complex, spicy, and rich, this is a full-on version of Sonoma cabernet sauvignon. The wine is aged 24 months in French oak barrels, 75% new, before bottling. It is made in the RS small lot Artisan Cellar, where winemaker Justin Seidenfeld employs cluster pre-sorting, extended maceration, and small tanks and equipment sized for the most discriminating vineyard selection. Look for an aromatic, dusty, spicy espresso nose with blackberries and black currants. It's been eight years since I have seen this wine. Winemaker Justin Seidenfeld has been polishing away the oak and heavier notes, revealing a tighter, more linear cabernet filled with spicy, smoky blackberry jam and sophisticated French oak. There is no hurry here. You could wait a decade and not be rushed to drink this. If you must drink it now, a T-bone steak would be my choice, matching the wine's sophistication and length of flavour.Tasted: 12 January 2024Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices: