Reserve Wines From Rodney Strong Vineyards/Greg Morthole

As we enjoy this great holiday weekend,May I suggest three great reserve wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards. Raised in Sacramento, Greg Morthole attended the University of Wyoming, where he earned a B.S. in Natural Sciences. He entered the wine industry as a Laboratory Analyst at Vinquiry in Windsor, California, then moved to Chalk Hill Winery in 2003 to become an Enologist. Greg joined the Rodney Strong Vineyards team in 2005, when he accepted a position as Lab Director. His innate acumen for winemaking became immediately clear to his peers, and he quickly ascended to an appointment as Associate Winemaker in late 2007. In the spring of 2010, he was promoted to Winemaker, overseeing all aspects of operations and winemaking in our Artisan, “Winery Within the Winery.” With a quiet demeanor and a determined attitude, Greg’s energetic style illustrates how enjoyable he finds winemaking to be. “Making the Reserve and Single-Vineyard wines here is an honor,” he says. Alexander Valley is best known for the classic Bordeaux varietals which thrive in the unique soils and warm climate, with parts of the valley moderated by cooling ocean breezes and evening fog. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown here are marked by deep plum and blackberry flavors, with abundant, supple tannin structure. Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc is characterized by ripe melon and pear tones, highlighted by zesty lime peel notes. A testament to the amazing quality of the region, each of our single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon releases comes from small Alexander Valley vineyard sites: Alexander’s Crown, Rockaway and Brothers.Let's start with the Reserve Cab Franc. Our 2015 vintage Reserve Cabernet Franc is rich with aromas of black cherry, raspberry and chocolate with floral undertones. On the palate are flavors of linden spices, red cherry and cocoa with structured tannins and a long-lingering finish.