2010 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel

Norm's Tasting Notes
by:Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2010 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel

I sampled the 2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel last fall and enjoyed it quite a bit, so I was delighted to have an opportunity recently to taste the 2010 vintage. The vines in the Knotty Vines Vineyard in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County date back to the early 1900's. The folks at Rodney Strong combine these grapes with those from their vineyards in the Alexander Valley to produce an excellent Zinfandel, which pairs well with a variety of grilled meats, and other hearty fare.

I had read that the 2010 vintage took a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition recently, so I was eager to have a taste. The wine is a deep red purple in color with an explosive nose of dark fruit, which fills your senses with its presence. It has jammy flavors of blackberries, black raspberries, and dark cherries, with a hint of the pepper taste that I like so much in Zinfandel. The wine was aged for sixteen months in French and American oak so it has a firm backbone, with smooth tannins in the finish. The flavor lingers with a clean and smooth mouth-feel which belies the 15% alcohol content..

We enjoyed the Knotty Vines with grilled pork loin chops, roasted new potaoes and a fresh green garden salad. It was excellent. This wine would also be great with steak, or a hearty Italian pasta dish. Norm's score is 94.

Score: 94
Price: $15 - $19

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog:
http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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