Smith Madrone

Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon

9.14 ratings
9.14 pro ratings
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
Shengli Hu

Pyrazine (only a hint in a good way), smoke, red and dark cherry, orange peel, alcohol heat, some French oak spices, high acidity, smooth-ish fine-grained high quality tannins. Rather restraint overall. Blended right before bottling to be 6% Merlot 75% Cab Sauv.
Visited the winery on Sep 3rd 2022 in the morning, greeted by the responsible vineyard guard dog šŸ¶ who turned into the happiest sloppy doggo during our tasting appointment. Charlie Smith just finished picking the estate Cab Sauv fruit that morning started at 6am. And we witnessed fruits coming in and the destemmer churning and read through reflectometer that the Brix sits at 24.5. Charles Smith is a such a personality but thatā€™s a story for another time :)

Pyrazine (only a hint in a good way), smoke, red and dark cherry, orange peel, alcohol heat, some French oak spices, high acidity, smooth-ish fine-grained high quality tannins. Rather restraint overall. Blended right before bottling to be 6% Merlot 75% Cab Sauv.
Visited the winery on Sep 3rd 2022 in the morning, greeted by the responsible vineyard guard dog šŸ¶ who turned into the happiest sloppy doggo during our tasting appointment. Charlie Smith just finished picking the estate Cab Sauv fruit that morning started at 6am. And we witnessed fruits coming in and the destemmer churning and read through reflectometer that the Brix sits at 24.5. Charles Smith is a such a personality but thatā€™s a story for another time :)

Sep 5th, 2022
"Odedi"

This is an Interesting Cabernet from Spring Mountain.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, earth, vanilla, spices, vegetables, bitter herbs, green pepper, tobacco leaf, coffee and black pepper.

This Napa Cabernet is still young, and shows lots of earthy notes. Feels like a left bank Bordeaux. The Cabernet franc is very dominant right now.

A good sipping wine with good structure and a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Aged for 21 months in French Oak barrels.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$60.

This is an Interesting Cabernet from Spring Mountain.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, earth, vanilla, spices, vegetables, bitter herbs, green pepper, tobacco leaf, coffee and black pepper.

This Napa Cabernet is still young, and shows lots of earthy notes. Feels like a left bank Bordeaux. The Cabernet franc is very dominant right now.

A good sipping wine with good structure and a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Aged for 21 months in French Oak barrels.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$60.

Aug 10th, 2022
"Odedi"

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

A very pretty color of dark ruby, with a red /brick rim.

Earthy on the nose with black currants, black plums, oak, licorice, light vanilla, light vegetables,, earth, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, dust, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry on the palate with currants, cherries, spices, tobacco, oak, green herbs, vegetables, earth, spices, red chili pepper, bitter herbs and dark coffee.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is still young, but already enjoyable. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel and good structure.

Earthier than I expected, actually, and good by itself or with food. Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.

Needs time to open up properly, I gave it 90 minutes. A good quality wine. Spicy and interesting.

Will be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a French Brie cheese.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 21 months in (50% new) French Oak barrels.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$62.

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

A very pretty color of dark ruby, with a red /brick rim.

Earthy on the nose with black currants, black plums, oak, licorice, light vanilla, light vegetables,, earth, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, dust, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry on the palate with currants, cherries, spices, tobacco, oak, green herbs, vegetables, earth, spices, red chili pepper, bitter herbs and dark coffee.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is still young, but already enjoyable. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel and good structure.

Earthier than I expected, actually, and good by itself or with food. Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.

Needs time to open up properly, I gave it 90 minutes. A good quality wine. Spicy and interesting.

Will be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a French Brie cheese.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 21 months in (50% new) French Oak barrels.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$62.

Dec 3rd, 2021
Alex Christian Maccaro

Icon Reds Tasting Class at Corkbuzz Wine Studio in New York

Icon Reds Tasting Class at Corkbuzz Wine Studio in New York

Jan 27th, 2023
John Berghoff

John had this a year ago

John had this a year ago

Dec 6th, 2022