Rodney Strong Vineyards
Knotty Vines Northern Sonoma Zinfandel
Northern Sonoma, Sonoma County, California, USA
A funny one.
Opened the first bottle of this, decanted for an hour or so, and tasted to find that it’d completely gone. Not corked, simply past its best. Flat. I opened another, and the last I have of the 2012 - a wine I’ve enjoyed many a time over the years - and drank straight from the bottle (well, with a glass in between - but no decanter). This bottle showed much better, with all of the plump, creamy and velvety dark fruit you’d expect from a decent Sonoma Zin. Much to my surprise, it carried well the day after - and even the first bottle, half of which remained sealed in its original bottle, was showing well two days after opening.
Wine is a strange thing. But a wonderful thing nonetheless.
A funny one.
Opened the first bottle of this, decanted for an hour or so, and tasted to find that it’d completely gone. Not corked, simply past its best. Flat. I opened another, and the last I have of the 2012 - a wine I’ve enjoyed many a time over the years - and drank straight from the bottle (well, with a glass in between - but no decanter). This bottle showed much better, with all of the plump, creamy and velvety dark fruit you’d expect from a decent Sonoma Zin. Much to my surprise, it carried well the day after - and even the first bottle, half of which remained sealed in its original bottle, was showing well two days after opening.
Wine is a strange thing. But a wonderful thing nonetheless.
Lots of candied fruit. Cloying.
Lots of candied fruit. Cloying.
1 person found it helpfulJan 21st, 2015This is a great value Zin that makes me realise I don't drink enough of the stuff. There's an immediate hit of vanilla on the nose, though not overpowering, followed by coffee and spices. On the palate, the balance between acidity and ripe fruit is impeccable and exemplary of a truly well-crafted Zinfandel. This is a grape that's hard to master, and Rodney's nailed it here. The finish is long, preceded by sumptuous notes of toffee, orange zest and cocoa. At four years of age, the tannins are performing exceptionally (I write this on the second day of opening) and, though I wouldn't say this is one for the cellar, it's a wine that is very enjoyable now.
Also worthy of note is that, last night, I drank this from a Riedel Veritas Cabernet/Merlot glass, and tonight from a Riesling/Zinfandel glass from the same range. Credit to Riedel: the wine is showing immeasurably better tonight, from a glass whose aperture is far tighter; the influence on the wine is unquestionable. #california #californiaclassic #zintastic #zinfadel #zincredible #redwine #sonomaorbust #sonoma @riedel
This is a great value Zin that makes me realise I don't drink enough of the stuff. There's an immediate hit of vanilla on the nose, though not overpowering, followed by coffee and spices. On the palate, the balance between acidity and ripe fruit is impeccable and exemplary of a truly well-crafted Zinfandel. This is a grape that's hard to master, and Rodney's nailed it here. The finish is long, preceded by sumptuous notes of toffee, orange zest and cocoa. At four years of age, the tannins are performing exceptionally (I write this on the second day of opening) and, though I wouldn't say this is one for the cellar, it's a wine that is very enjoyable now.
Also worthy of note is that, last night, I drank this from a Riedel Veritas Cabernet/Merlot glass, and tonight from a Riesling/Zinfandel glass from the same range. Credit to Riedel: the wine is showing immeasurably better tonight, from a glass whose aperture is far tighter; the influence on the wine is unquestionable. #california #californiaclassic #zintastic #zinfadel #zincredible #redwine #sonomaorbust #sonoma @riedel
Well balanced, good fruit. Solid midweek quaff
Well balanced, good fruit. Solid midweek quaff
May 1st, 2016
V12. Toasty, caramel boquet. Big jammy blackberry and plumb fruit. Soft finish, actually diminishes the explosive start . Still enjoyable wine for the price!
V12. Toasty, caramel boquet. Big jammy blackberry and plumb fruit. Soft finish, actually diminishes the explosive start . Still enjoyable wine for the price!
Mar 19th, 2016
Raspberry and cherry with notes of vanilla. Very smooth with a moderate lingering finish - notes of pepper and spice.
Raspberry and cherry with notes of vanilla. Very smooth with a moderate lingering finish - notes of pepper and spice.
Oct 18th, 2015
Aronad if deep rich cherries and oak. Nice balanced body and finish.
Aronad if deep rich cherries and oak. Nice balanced body and finish.
Oct 18th, 2015
Very flavorful, and quite potent for such a smooth wine.
Very flavorful, and quite potent for such a smooth wine.
Jul 2nd, 2015