Cave Spring Cellars

Smith Madrone

Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Earthy nose with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, chocolates, Indian spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, earth, dark chocolates, green vegetables and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cherries, oak, dark chocolates, coffee, spices, earth, black tea, light green vegetables and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a young Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain District in Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and complex, with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux.

Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

I've had a few different vintages of this wine and this vintage seems to be more approachable at this young age.

Delicious by itself, and paired beautifully with the beef brisket.

A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.
— a day ago

Tom liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Always a (relatively) good value for Napa Cab.

Robert Keenan Winery

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2021

Light golden in color.


Strong nose of citrus, apples, lemons, light earth, pears, light oak and spices.


Medium plus in body with medium acidity.


Dry on the palate with red apples, lemons, limes, light wood, spices, light nuts and sea salt. 


Tangy finish with lemons and light earth notes. 


This 5 year old Chardonnay from Spring Mountain District in Napa Valley is still drinking very fresh, which I loved. Rich and smooth, nicely balanced and elegant, with a generous mouthfeel. 


I had this vintage 2 years ago and it is drinking better now. Complex, fruit forward and interesting, with a light buttery mouthfeel. 


Good right out of the bottle, easy drinking, and good by itself as a sipping wine.


100% Chardonnay grapes were handpicked and aged for 7 months, on the lees, in French and American oak barrels.


13.9% alcohol by volume.


92 points.


$40. 
— 2 months ago

Ted, Dawn and 6 others liked this

School House Vineyard

Mezcolanza Zinfandel Blend 2014

This had aged into something quite elegant. Only 13.3%, it’s got some fruit still but is quite “claret” like. I love how old school this is. — 4 months ago

Dan CasagrandeAngelo Casagrande
with Dan and Angelo
Angelo, Joel and 24 others liked this

Smith Madrone

Spring Mountain District Riesling 2017

Ming L
9.4

The petrol note is pronounced, yet beautifully integrated. Citrus and tropical tones emerge on the nose, joined by a faint wisp of smoke. The palate has Viognier-like texture, lending weight and shape, while bright, clean-cut acidity is balanced by just a touch of residual sweetness.

It’s puzzling that Napa Valley can produce Riesling of this caliber!
— 6 months ago

Severn and Tom liked this

Beekeeper Cellars

Madrone Spring Zinfandel 2013

Jammy, aging nicely, not sure when peak is but feels close. — 2 years ago

Shay, Paul and 5 others liked this

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

2015 vintage. Sampled from Coravin. Medium body. The monstrous tannins tamed somewhat...as they meet a decade+. Absolutely, top-notch nose. If you both respect the exuberance of youth and celebrate the wisdom of age, this is for you. A fascinating, case study currently. 6.24.26. — 3 days ago

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Estate Bottled Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Very tasty Napa cab from Spring Mountain. Mature enough at 8 years to lay down nicely. Paired well with steak. Drank in June 2026 — 16 days ago

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1979

Somm David T
9.2

Oldest wine served at “From the Cellar.” Paired with the dish of event.

I met Tim who was pouring initially. He is the main person behind the VC group that bought the property and three others out of BK in 1999. We all know what happened the next yr with the Glass Fires. Very unfortunate coupled w/ bad timing.

The hope to have all the restoration worked completed by 2030. They have already started replanting the vineyards that were consumed in the fire. Priority number one as it is roughly 7 yrs before you get usable fruit for quality wines.

He brought a 3L of the 79. Mags of 90, 96, 97, 05 & 06 to the event.

The “Grilled Sofrito Lamb Ribs” were off the chain. I had three.
— 2 months ago

Paul, Jay and 9 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T I was just stating my experience; wasn’t trying to say yours was wrong. I know everyone has a different opinion and old bottles bring other variables. I think we agree that it’s a special wine.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

We absolutely do. Cheers! 🍷

Robert Keenan Winery

Reserve Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Inky beast. I’m probably in the Epstein files now. 2030+ for next bottle — 5 months ago

Jenks, Tom and 1 other liked this

Raphael & Vincent Bérêche

Côte 62 Mois De Cave Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2020

Hazelnut & marzipan with light bubbles. — 8 months ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Tegan, Ron and 1 other liked this

Jarvis Winery

Estate Grown Cave Fermented Finch Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

Shay A
9.3

Jarvis has always been such a unique producer with its incredible underground facility and fascinating lineup of wines. Their Finch Hollow Chardonnays (this one and the Unfiltered version) are outrageously expensive, but they sure know how to deliver on flavor profile.

My notes here are actually quite similar to the 2015 I opened last year, but everything is a touch more restrained. Normally quite rich with expensive oak usage, this seems nicely balanced…it’s almost fresh in profile. Sweet lemon cream alongside marzipan and sea breeze aromatically. From a phenolic standpoint, it’s close to some of the Aubert offerings with its powerful texture. Finishes with a surprising amount of honeysuckle, caramel dipped apple, and honeycrisp. This seems to be built for a bit longer aging compared to the 2015. I’ll be curious to see how the 2018 is.
— 4 years ago

Jason, Brian and 28 others liked this
Brent Young

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Nice note 👍@Shay A Happy New Year! 🥂🍾

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

I sort of forgot that today marked the 50th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris and this was the best I could do to celebrate in the moment; a wine from a participating producer but in the red category, instead of white. From magnum, the 2010 “Elivette” pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, Fresno chili, dried purple flowers, purple SweeTarts, tobacco, some dried herbs and fine spices with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ viscosity and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is long with ferrous minerals. Tasty stuff. Drink now with some patience and through 2040. Bottle No. 095/900 magnums. — a month ago

Matt, Jan and 8 others liked this

Philip Togni Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

This is a producer that should be more revered than it is. His 90’s were amongst my favorite Napa Cabernets. Especially, the 94, which is exceptional and I’ve had on 3-4 occasions.

2007 is a grand vintage but this one needs more cellaring. It is still in its adolescence. I would like to try this in another 8-10 yrs. Don’t get me wrong, this drinks nicely now but it’s best is still ahead.

I coravined & decanted this in a big Bordeaux glass for an hour and it is still a 1/2 monster.

The nose shows; dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries with understated raspberries in the glass edges, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets.

The M+ tannins are round, velvety, dusty and still meaty. Dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, liqueur cherries with understated, hovering raspberries. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, soft, moist cigar box, leather, anise, rounded very dark spices, moist clays, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets, very round, pleasant acidity with balance for days, still pronounced structure/tension, great length and a smartly, polished, ruby two-minute finish that long sets on on deep, dark spice, earthiness & ruby, dark currents.

Right now a Filet steak, not a fatty steak, Ribeye or Ribcap.

Still so youthful! Add a point or two in 7-10 yrs. .

Philip is in his 90’s and still involved in the winemaking. He walks the property daily.
— 2 months ago

Jeroen, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this
Jeroen Koenen

Jeroen Koenen

A personal favorite! The 1997 iteration of this wine converted me, being a classic Bordeauxphile, into American wines some 20 years ago. Thank you for that, Mr. Togni.

Cave de Saumur

Les Pouches Saumur Chenin Blanc 2018

Cool simple bottle and label. A screw-top with class. Color is golden straw. Aromas of lemons and honey. Hint of freshly scrubbed flagstone patios. Flavors are lemon water, honeydew melon and jasmine tea. This is like all the good things in non-buttery Chardonnay mixed with the minerality and zing of Sauv Blanc. It’s fuller, denser and more elegant than most CA Chenin Blanc I’ve had. It’s also a white that seems to age nicely. If I could find it somewhere around here, it would join the short list for go to whites. — 8 months ago

Tegan and Douglas liked this

Jarvis Winery

Estate Grown Cave Fermented Lake William Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

2016 lite and somewhat dry. Beautiful deep purple color. — 4 years ago