Deep Wine Discounts | Mix & Match Your Favorites | Build a 12-Bottle Case
WineDiscounts.com

Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot

Rodney Strong Vineyards · California · United States

89 pts · Wine Enthusiastsustainable
$15.99
1

Building a case?

Add this wine to your mix-and-match 12-bottle case — every bottle at our already-low everyday price.

Why it’s a great value

It carries a verified 89-point score from Wine Enthusiast at a price under $25. The next step up in the same style, Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot, is $22.99.

Taste profile

SweetnessDry → Sweet
BodyLight → Full
Acidity*Soft → Bright
Tannin*Silky → Grippy
Oak*None → Bold
Fruit*Subtle → Intense

* WineDiscounts editorial estimate based on verified tasting notes.

What it tastes like

Velvety black cherry, cassis and boysenberry with soft tannins, toasty oak, spice and a savory herbal edge.

You’ll like this if…

Choose this if you like smooth California Merlot, softer Cabernet-style reds, or plush Sonoma reds with oak polish but not heavy tannic grip.

Why buy it

It is a dependable Sonoma County Merlot from an established producer, with enough fruit and oak for broad appeal and enough savory detail for food.

Best for

A dinner-table red for pork chops, lamb, short ribs, burgers, meat pasta and mushroom dishes.

Style

Medium-bodied, dry, soft-tannin California Merlot with dark fruit and moderate French oak.

Drinks like

Sonoma Merlot, California Merlot, softer Bordeaux-style red blends, fruit-forward Right Bank-inspired blends.

Experience level

Beginner-friendly, but still useful for shoppers who want a recognizable Sonoma producer.

Flavor notes

Fruitblack cherryboysenberry compotecassisblackberrycranberry
Floralcut flowers
Earthdried herbsearth
Oaktoasty oakcocoa
Spiceanisebaking spice
Otherfig compote

Pairs well with

grilled pork chops with cherry reduction · lavender-crusted lamb shanks · creamy polenta with short rib ragu · burgers with mushrooms and swiss cheese

Best occasions

weeknight steak or burger nightpasta with meat saucecasual dinner partyMerlot drinkers looking for a softer California red

Serving & enjoying

Serving temperature:
60-65°F
Decanting:
15-20 minutes if opened young; otherwise pour directly after a short rest in the glass
Glassware:
Bordeaux or large red wine glass
Drink or cellar:
Enjoy as a current-release wine over the next 3-5 years
After opening:
Best within 3-5 days, recorked and stored cool

Guidance partly estimated by WineDiscounts from the wine’s style.

About this wine

A soft, medium-bodied Sonoma County Merlot with dark cherry, boysenberry and cassis flavors, supported by toasty French oak and a touch of spice. This is an easygoing, polished red for weeknight dinners, grilled meats or richer comfort food.

Wine details

Type
red
Varietal
Merlot
Grapes
Recent 2022 producer tech sheet: 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Zinfandel
Producer
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Country
United States
Region
California
Appellation
Sonoma County
Bottle size
750 Ml
ABV
14.5%

Details last verified September 24, 2026

Explore

Winemaking details ›
Winemaker:
Recent 2022 tech sheet lists Justin Seidenfeld and Olivia Wright.
Vineyard source:
Producer states it farms Merlot in three estate vineyards in Alexander Valley for this Sonoma County wine.
Vessel:
French oak barrels
About the winery · Rodney Strong Vineyards ›

Rodney Strong Vineyards is based in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, and traces its modern history to founder Rod Strong's move from dance to winemaking in 1959. The Klein family has owned the winery since 1989 and has emphasized Sonoma County vineyards, cellar investment and sustainability. The producer notes that it has grown Merlot since the early 1970s, when Rod Strong first planted it in the heart of Alexander Valley. Today, Rodney Strong presents Merlot as a Sonoma-grown, dark-fruited style with mature tannins from warmer Alexander Valley sites.

Sustainability

Certified Sustainable Winery · Assessed and verified under the Sustainable Winegrowing Practices workbook ↗Fish Friendly Farming · Producer states all vineyards have been certified by the Fish Friendly Farming program since 2009 ↗Carbon Neutral · Producer states the winery and vineyards' carbon impact has been lowered to zero through reductions and carbon credits ↗

Critic reviews

89/100Wine Enthusiast

“Aromas of cranberry, chopped herbs, cut flowers, and cocoa.”

Reviewed: Rodney Strong 2023 Merlot (Sonoma County) (2023) — Tom R. Capo, 2026-02-01 · source
Trade up

Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot

Merlot · California

$22.99

More Merlot

Explore more from Rodney Strong Vineyards

You may also like

More wines from California

Frequently asked questions

Is Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot dry or sweet?
Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot is bone dry — its sweetness rating is 1 on our 1 (bone dry) to 5 (sweet) scale. It is medium-bodied.
What does Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot taste like?
Velvety black cherry, cassis and boysenberry with soft tannins, toasty oak, spice and a savory herbal edge.
What food pairs with Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot?
It pairs well with Grilled pork chops with cherry reduction, Lavender-crusted lamb shanks, Creamy polenta with short rib ragu and Burgers with mushrooms and Swiss cheese.
How should I serve Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot?
Serve at 60-65°F. 15-20 minutes if opened young; otherwise pour directly after a short rest in the glass. Glass: Bordeaux or large red wine glass.
Is Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot a good value?
At $15.99 it carries a verified 89-point score from Wine Enthusiast; the review is shown on this page.
What is the bottle size and alcohol content of Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot?
750 ml bottle, 14.5% alcohol by volume.