Back in the winter of this year, I wrote about what I considered to be the best Chardonnay I had tasted in years, which was the 2005 Simi Russian River Chardonnay. The local representative for Rodney Strong wines asked that we compare the Simi to the Rodney Strong Russian River Reserve Chardonnay.

These wines were tasted before the meal and with dinner, which consisted of grilled shrimp and salmon, accompanied by broiled lobster tails, steamed rice and a garden salad featuring home grown tomatoes. It was an orgasmic, gastronomical event!

We have included the tasting notes from myself and my wife, and you will notice a slight difference of opinion, but both wines were wonderful.

2005 Rodney Strong Russian River Chardonnay

NB - Pale yellow straw color – pineapple and tropical fruit aromas – flavors of pineapple and apple with a tangy crisp tartness – finish is clean and crisp with very little evidence of oak- opened up more with the meal, but still not the bold fruit of the Simi. score is 91

MB – The color is light yellow with a light nose of apricot and apple – some butter with the taste of apples and pears, and a slight hint of spice – has a big fruit finish with no oak With the meal there was more pronounced butter and a bigger full mouth taste.

score is 93

2005 Simi Russian River Chardonnay

NB - Yellow gold in color – apple and pear in the nose – flavors of apple, pear and a slight hint of apricot – light oak in the finish with some buttery tones and the big bold fruit lingers on. Fruit continues to be bold during the meal. score is 95

MB – Darker yellow than the R. Strong – the nose is apples and the fruit is intense with apple and pear – there is some butter but no oak in the finish. With the meal there was more fruitiness with tart apple but the finish diminished more quickly than the R. Strong.

score is 91

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-6284