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Great Wine Values: Rodney Strong Pinot Noir

Just as some regions of the world are better suited for growing wine grapes than others, some wine regions are better for growing specific grape varieties than others thanks to unique features of their geography.

Rodney Strong Pinot Noir
Rodney Strong Pinot NoirRead moreCourtesy of Rodney Strong Vineyards

Just as some regions of the world are better suited for growing wine grapes than others, some wine regions are better for growing specific grape varieties than others thanks to unique features of their geography.

Case in point: California’s Russian River Valley is the country’s second most famous A.V.A., or American Viticultural Area, after Napa Valley. The two are less than 20 miles apart, both located in the coastal ranges of mountains north of San Francisco Bay. But where the warmer and more sheltered Napa Valley is famed for its big reds like cabernet sauvignon, Russian River Valley is considerably closer to the Pacific and therefore much cooler, with growing conditions that favor chardonnay and pinot noir. Here, ocean breezes and a daily blanket of fog slow down fruit’s rush to ripeness, allowing these lighter, paler styles of wine to develop plenty of flavor complexity without losing the thread of bracing acidity which is so essential to their ability to refresh the senses and act as a flattering foil for food.

Pinot noir and chardonnay are both native to the cool-climate region of Burgundy in France, and pinot noir is particularly temperature-sensitive. Its wines lose their magic if they get overripe, leading pinot-philes to seek wines from colder regions like Russian River Valley. This lovely example is among the region’s more affordable pinot noirs, offering a taste of the haunting beauty, earthy scent, and red-berry charm associated with this noble grape when grown in this respected terroir.

Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, United States; $19.99 (regularly $22.99), PLCB Item #4052.

Also available at: Kreston Wine & Spirits in Wilmington, Del. ($17.73), Canal’s Bottlestop in Marlton, N.J. ($17.96), Williamstown Super Buy Rite in Williamstown, N.J. ($17.99), Total Wine & More in Cherry Hill, N.J. ($18.47), Total Wine & More in Wilmington, Del., and Claymont, Del. ($19.99).