Full Review

Rodney Strong

Rodney Strong
2020 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
86 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$18

Rodney Strong
2020 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Golden yellow color. Aromas and flavors of so2, vanilla yogurt and cream cheese, butter and lemon curd, and baked apple pie with a round, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, interesting, medium-length finish that shows accents of green apple, lemonade with key lime juice, and roasted pineapple with light oak flavor. A creamy new world Chardonnay with a crisp citrus backbone.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively
Aroma Aroma: so2, vanilla yogurt and cream cheese, butter and lemon curd, and baked apple pie
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of green apple, lemonade with key lime juice, and roasted pineapple
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A creamy new world Chardonnay with a crisp citrus backbone.

The Producer

Rodney Strong Vineyards

The Producer
11455 Old Readwood Highway
Healdsburg, CA 95448
USA
1 707-433-6521

Their Portfolio

87 Knotty Vines 2019 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $15.00.
86 Knotty Vines 2019 Pinot Noir, California 14.5% (USA) $15.00.
85 Knotty Vines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 14.5% (USA) $15.00.
89 Knotty Vines 2019 Red Blend, California 14.5% (USA) $15.00.
93 Rodney Strong 2021 Rosé, Russian River Valley 12% (USA) $25.00.
86 Rodney Strong 2020 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $18.00.
91 Rodney Strong 2013 Gentleman’s Port, Sonoma County 18.5% (USA) $22.00.
88 Rodney Strong 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $23.00.
87 Rodney Strong 2021 Charlotte’s Home, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 13.5% (USA) $18.00.
93 Rodney Strong 2019 Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $22.00.
91 Rodney Strong 2018 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.5% (USA) $25.00.
94 Rodney Strong 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 14.5% (USA) $30.00.
94 Rodney Strong 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley 14.5% (USA) $37.00.
88 Rodney Strong 2016 Symmetry, Red Meritage, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $60.00.
89 Rodney Strong 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $.00.
87 Rodney Strong 2019 Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap 14.5% (USA) $.00.
93 Rodney Strong 2022 Rosé, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13% (USA) $25.00.
91 Rodney Strong Vineyards 2021 Red Blend, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $23.00.
88 Rowen 2018 Red Blend, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $60.00.
89 Upshot By Rodney Strong 2019 Red Blend, Sonoma County 14.5% (USA) $19.00.
89 Upshot By Rodney Strong 2019 White Blend, California 13% (USA) $19.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.