Dec 30, 2022
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
| Owner(s) | Charles F. Smith III, Stuart Smith |
| Web site | www.smithmadrone.com |
| Link to this site |
Smith-Madrone is located in the Spring Mountain District in St. Helena, Napa Valley. Founded in 1971 by Stuart Smith, the winery is owned and managed by brothers Stuart Smith and Charles F. Smith III who is the winemaker. The name is a tribute to the Smith brothers and the predominant tree, the Madrone evergreen, on the ranch.
The wines are made entirely from the winery's dry-farmed (except for young vines) 38-acres of estate vineyards surrounding the winery which are planted to Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Production is about 4,000 cases of 100% estate grown Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon per year. Tours and tastings are by appointment, always conducted by one of the Smith brothers.
Articles About Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
Chardonnay: No Wonder that it is the Most Popular White Varietal (11.16 1/6/2018)
Recent Sips of Other Interesting Whites (9.40 4/17/2014)
Sips of Recently Tasted White Wines (10.3 1/22/2015)
Sips of Recently Tasted Wines (9.38 2/22/2014)
Reviewed Wines
NV Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Riesling
12.6% alc., 1,288 cases, $27. From 5.5
acres of dry-farmed estate grapes. Cool mountain
temperatures, rocky volcanic soil.
·
Inviting scents of
lemon-lime, pine, grass and petrol. Juicy lemon-lime,
green apple, pear and tropical flavors in a crisp style with
a slightly creamy textural tone. Impressive finishing length and
palate-cleansing acidity. A perfect match with oysters or southern
fried chicken.
Score: 93.
Reviewed January 23, 2015
ARTICLE »
2015 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.4% alc., pH 3.29, TA 0.803, 512 cases, $34.
Vineyard founded in 1971 at the top of Spring
Mountain at 1,800 feet elevation. Winery is run
by Charles, Sam and Stuart Smith. Steep, dry
farmed vineyard with red and rocky volcanic soil.
Estate grown and bottled. For 47 years, Smith-
Madrone wines have been sourced from the
same vineyards, pruned, cultivated and harvested in the same manner.
100% barrel fermented, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 80%
new.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon oil,
slate, toast, stony earth and matchstick. Intense citrus core with a bright
and crisp demeanor. Flavors of lemon, pineapple, caramel and a hint of
graphite. A refreshing drink with an amazing finish spearheaded by
highly aromatic citrus that seems to build in intensity over time at the end. I rarely encounter a finish of this
grandeur in Chardonnay.
Score: 94.
Reviewed January 6, 2018
ARTICLE »
2012 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Riesling
12.5% alc., pH 3.12, residual
sugar 0.41%, 798 cases, $27. Vines grown in red, rocky volcanic soil. 5.5 acres of 40-year-old, dryfarmed
Riesling planted along with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon adjacent encroaching forest
of Madrone - hence the name.
·
Pale yellow color and clear in the glass. Delicate aromas of lemon
zest, green apple, peach and toast. Flavorful range of citrus fruits and peach with a note of iron-driven
minerality and bright acidity. Has the goods to age for many years.
Score: 90.
Reviewed April 19, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., 779 cases,
pH 3.32, TA 0.69, 779 cases, $32. Average age of dry-farmed vines is 39 years. 100% barrel
fermented in 100% new French oak barrels for 8 months. Winemakers and winegrowers Charles and
Stuart Smith.
·
Bright golden straw color and clear in the glass. Scents of lemon curd, poached pears
and green apples lead to a soft and creamy core of citrus, pear and banana flavors with a hint of
smoky oak and iron-driven minerality. Somewhat reserved in a French style that is well-crafted.
Score: 91.
Reviewed January 23, 2015
ARTICLE »
2011 Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., pH 3.30, TA 0.67, 463
cases, $30. Winemakers and winegrowers Charles and Stuart Smith.
A very cool growing season. From a dry-farmed 13-acre vineyard
planted in red and rocky volcanic soil. The vines are 39 years old.
100% barrel fermented in 100% new French oak barrels for 8
months.
·
Moderate golden yellow color and clear in the glass. This
wine is about the soil and uniquely reflects the terroir. The nose is
replete with aromas of iron, paraffin, peach and citrus. Crisp and bright on the
palate, with layered flavors of lemon, green apple, spice, and iron. Beautifully
balanced with a remarkably long finish for a Chardonnay. This wine can be cellared for several years, but
drinks beautifully now.
Score: 93.
Reviewed February 22, 2014
ARTICLE »
NV Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Riesling
12.6% alc., 1,288 cases, $27. From 5.5 acres of dry-farmed estate grapes. Cool mountain temperatures, rocky volcanic soil. · Inviting scents of lemon-lime, pine, grass and petrol. Juicy lemon-lime, green apple, pear and tropical flavors in a crisp style with a slightly creamy textural tone. Impressive finishing length and palate-cleansing acidity. A perfect match with oysters or southern fried chicken. Score: 93. Reviewed January 23, 2015 ARTICLE »
2015 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.4% alc., pH 3.29, TA 0.803, 512 cases, $34. Vineyard founded in 1971 at the top of Spring Mountain at 1,800 feet elevation. Winery is run by Charles, Sam and Stuart Smith. Steep, dry farmed vineyard with red and rocky volcanic soil. Estate grown and bottled. For 47 years, Smith- Madrone wines have been sourced from the same vineyards, pruned, cultivated and harvested in the same manner. 100% barrel fermented, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon oil, slate, toast, stony earth and matchstick. Intense citrus core with a bright and crisp demeanor. Flavors of lemon, pineapple, caramel and a hint of graphite. A refreshing drink with an amazing finish spearheaded by highly aromatic citrus that seems to build in intensity over time at the end. I rarely encounter a finish of this grandeur in Chardonnay. Score: 94. Reviewed January 6, 2018 ARTICLE »
2012 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Riesling
12.5% alc., pH 3.12, residual sugar 0.41%, 798 cases, $27. Vines grown in red, rocky volcanic soil. 5.5 acres of 40-year-old, dryfarmed Riesling planted along with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon adjacent encroaching forest of Madrone - hence the name. · Pale yellow color and clear in the glass. Delicate aromas of lemon zest, green apple, peach and toast. Flavorful range of citrus fruits and peach with a note of iron-driven minerality and bright acidity. Has the goods to age for many years. Score: 90. Reviewed April 19, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., 779 cases, pH 3.32, TA 0.69, 779 cases, $32. Average age of dry-farmed vines is 39 years. 100% barrel fermented in 100% new French oak barrels for 8 months. Winemakers and winegrowers Charles and Stuart Smith. · Bright golden straw color and clear in the glass. Scents of lemon curd, poached pears and green apples lead to a soft and creamy core of citrus, pear and banana flavors with a hint of smoky oak and iron-driven minerality. Somewhat reserved in a French style that is well-crafted. Score: 91. Reviewed January 23, 2015 ARTICLE »
2011 Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., pH 3.30, TA 0.67, 463 cases, $30. Winemakers and winegrowers Charles and Stuart Smith. A very cool growing season. From a dry-farmed 13-acre vineyard planted in red and rocky volcanic soil. The vines are 39 years old. 100% barrel fermented in 100% new French oak barrels for 8 months. · Moderate golden yellow color and clear in the glass. This wine is about the soil and uniquely reflects the terroir. The nose is replete with aromas of iron, paraffin, peach and citrus. Crisp and bright on the palate, with layered flavors of lemon, green apple, spice, and iron. Beautifully balanced with a remarkably long finish for a Chardonnay. This wine can be cellared for several years, but drinks beautifully now. Score: 93. Reviewed February 22, 2014 ARTICLE »