One of the first wineries that reached out to me once I started this blog a dozen years ago was Rodney Strong. While I was thrilled that I was finally getting some recognition, it was tempered by my view of the brand. Back then, I saw Rodney Strong as a grocery store brand; it had been around forever and was available seemingly everywhere.

How wrong I was.

Sure, no matter where you are in the country, if wine is sold at your local grocery store, the shelves will likely have some Rodney Strong wines on them. Contrary to popular belief, particularly among the sommelier crowd, ubiquity does not always equate to mediocrity.

In fact, when it comes to Rodney Strong’s entry-level wines, I would argue that they represent some of the best values in California wine. From the Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc, to the Rosé of Pinot Noir, to the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, I would argue that Rodney Strong has the strongest under $20 lineup of any winery.

Their mid-level wines (between $25-50) are fantastic as well. In fact, three wines from the venerable producer figured quite prominently atop the best wines list of my recent Sixth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir.

Good ol’ Rodney Strong aside some heavy-weights in Pinot.

The focus of this article, however, is the upper end, the top of Rodney Strong’s portfolio, three single-vineyard wines: Alexander’s Crown, Brothers, and Rockaway. While these bottles fetch around $90 a piece, I still maintain that they are incredible values and represent year after year, perhaps the best expressions of Sonoma Cabernet.

2018 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard Alexander’s Crown Vineyard, Alexander Valley, CA: Retail $90. Big. Ass. Bottle. Heavy bottle (731g; 1lb 9.8oz). Under DIAM30. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. While I have never actually stepped foot into the Alexander’s Crown Vineyard, I have ridden by it on my bike countless times so I feel a bit of a kinship here. That, coupled with my decade-long love affair with Rodney Strong (the winery, not the dancer), gives you a bit of an idea. Alexander’s Crown Vineyard was planted in 1971, becoming the first single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley. Medium to dark in color and aromas with plenty of blackberry and cassis on the nose, along with some black and white pepper. Also worth noting? The subtle mocha notes that tantalize the palate. The palate is fruity, tart, and utterly scrumptious. Bravo. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2018 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Rockaway, Alexander Valley, CA: Retail $90. Heavy bottle (731g; 1lb 9.8oz). 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the second of the Rodney Strong Single Vineyard trilogy and is perhaps my favorite. It might have something to do with spending some time in the vineyard with the winemaking team a few years ago, but the wine is fantastic every year. Planted in 1994 to all five main Bordeaux varieties, it is the Cabernet Sauvignon that perhaps does best in this Alexander Valley Vineyard. Fairly dark in the glass with aromas of black plum, cassis, black pepper, and just a hint of pencil shavings on the backend of the nose. The palate is initially fruity, but by the time the mid-palate rolls around, there are secondary flavors of leather and baking spices. There is some evidence of tannins, but they are silky smooth and rather well-integrated. I have stated many times that I am not a big Cab kinda guy–I gravitate toward the Pinot end of the spectrum, but holy cow this is fantastic. Outstanding. 96 Points.

2018 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers, Alexander Valley, CA: Retail $90. Heavy bottle (731g; 1lb 9.8oz). 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The third in the Rodney Strong Single Vineyard trilogy, the Brothers, according to the fine folk at Rodney Strong, is the biggest and boldest of the three, pretty much every year. And that certainly tracks here. Dark, on the verge of brooding in the glass with fruit for sure (black raspberry, cassis, blackberry), but the darker mocha or even just straight-up dark chocolate make the bigger impressions on the nose. The palate is rich and alluring, like that first date when you are pretty sure you are out of your league but you hang in there just in case. Full, textured, and spicy, this is certainly the biggest of the three and that is backed up by some grippy, but at the same time silky, tannins on the finish. Whoa. Outstanding. 95 Points.