Cabernet Sauvignon Reviews

Imbiber's Journal, Steve McIntosh, July 18, 2026

Built for the long haul...accessible, lithe, lovely poise, deeply satisfying

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

From largely dry-farmed vineyards planted in 1971 by the founders and still-current owners comes the 2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District ($70) Before getting into the wine itself, a couple of notes on why this is worth your consideration. First, long-time readers will recognize Smith-Madrone as a regular name on these pages, thanks to the extraordinary consistency of their wines. That's not to say that they turn out the same-tasting wines year after year, but that quality and character is remarkably dependable, even while reflecting whatever hand Mother Nature deals from vintage to vintage. There's also the value, which, at $70, might be hard for many to square with the term "value." But according to the most recent DTC report, the average price of a bottle of Napa cab has surpassed $100. And that does not account for quality, which is more variable than ever.

Deep, deep garnet color with beautiful translucence, this cabernet moves in the glass with athletic agility. Giving it a whiff, gregarious dark red and black fruit comes at you framed by forest aromatics in the summer; cedar bark, dried conifers, and maybe even some sagebrush. On the palate it comes across with much brighter, high-toned notes, channeling freshness and floral character. This sits atop a seamless, easy-going texture and an elegant framework of acidity. The overall composition makes for an accessible, lithe cabernet, enjoyable even on a warm summer evening. Given the opportunity to decant for an hour or so, it relaxes somewhat, but doesn’t lose a drop of its grace. This is a quieter wine with nothing to prove, which allows its lovely poise to shine. Deeply satisfying without being overwhelming, the balance here will bode well for its longevity for those with the patience to cellar.


http://www.imbibersjournal.com/2026/07/built-for-long-haul-smith-madrone.html

James Melendez, James on Wine, July 11, 2026

94 points

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Review includes diagram of Smith-Madrone site


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ho1qdUXqYsQ

Alec Termer, Amateur Sommelier, June 25

Dry farming excellence since day one

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Founded in 1971 by brothers Stuart and Charles Smith atop Spring Mountain, Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery is officially celebrating its 55th anniversary. Renowned for defying high-octane trends with their restrained, terroir-driven estate Riesling, Chardonnay, and award-winning Cabernet, they've been dry-farming excellence in St. Helena since day one. Here's to over half a century of passion in every bottle! ✨️🥳


https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBaSJTSJmq/

Philip Kuo, The Wine Guys, July 10, 2026

Classic mountain fruit core and structural balance

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

94 points: Black cherry, blackberry, red currant, tobacco leaf, cedar, dried herbs and earth. Nice concentration of dark and red mountain fruit upfront with vibrant, brisk acidity and present but fine-grained tannins. Classic mountain fruit core and structural balance with a lean textured mid-palate with a long, savory finish. There’s a nice lift of acid on the back palate, and we don’t seem to get much of the heat from the vintage, which is really nice. 22’s are definitely approachable immediately, but this has the bones to age nicely as well. 


https://www.instagram.com/p/DaoOxYgB15G/

Enobytes, Pamela Heiligenthal, July 3, 2026

If what you want is a California Cabernet that tastes like a place rather than a formula, this is where you look.

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Up on Spring Mountain, about 1,800 feet above the Valley floor and the tourist tasting rooms and the cult-wine nonsense that has come to define much of Napa Valley, Stuart Smith and his brother Charles have been quietly doing things the hard way for more than fifty years. No irrigation after the vines get established. No shortcuts. No splashy label redesigns. Just grapes grown on steep, rocky hillside soils that have no business producing anything at all, and yet somehow produce some of the most honest Cabernet Sauvignon in California.

The 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a case in point. The vineyard is at high elevation where temperatures are cool and the soils are spare, and you feel the hillside in every sip. This is not a Cabernet built to impress a panel of critics with seventeen adjectives and a score in the high nineties. It is built to go with dinner.

Classic flavors of dark cherry and currant anchor a full-bodied core, with the finish carrying notes of cedar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Ripe black currants and cherries mingle with hints of black tea and bittersweet chocolate, while the structure is lean and racy, the acidity bright and nerve-steadying. There is nothing lavish or swashbuckling here, and all the better for it.

The blend, as has been Smith-Madrone’s tradition, is anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the sort of sensible Bordeaux-style assembly that most Napa producers abandoned years ago in favor of pure Cabernet and the power it commands on the auction market.

What to pair with the Estate Cabernet: On the table, the 2022 Estate Cabernet is not a wine that needs to be coaxed into performing. Its firm tannins and bright acidity make it a natural companion for food, not a rival to it. A well-aged rib roast, ideally with a bone still in it, would suit the wine admirably. So would a leg of lamb rubbed with the same herbs (rosemary and thyme) that seem to grow wild right there in the glass. Hard cheeses, a sharp Manchego or an aged Comté would hold their own against the wine’s structure without being overwhelmed. For something more casual, a thick-cut pork chop with wild mushrooms asks nothing of this Cabernet that it cannot readily supply.

What it does not want is anything sweet, anything heavily sauced, or anything designed to flatter the wine rather than complement it. Smith-Madrone’s Cabernet is too straightforward for that kind of fuss.

It has a long life ahead of it. Drink it now if you must, but those with patience and a cool corner of their cellar would do well to leave it alone for another five to eight years.

There are easier wines to find and flashier ones to talk about at dinner parties. But if what you want is a California Cabernet that tastes like a place rather than a formula, this is where you look.

 


https://www.enobytes.com/2026/06/11/winebytes-smith-madrone-2022-estate-cabernet-sauvignon/

Sierra Wine Guy, Joe Campbell, July 1, 2026

A streak of mountain air....This was made for nights like this--when everything's a little too much, and that's exactly how you want it

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

The neighbors are already halfway gone—Hawaiian steel guitar bleeding over the fence like melted sunset, cheap beer sweating in their hands. It’s too hot for subtlety. Too loud for restraint. USA’s about to kick off and you don’t reach for something polite on a night like this.

You go big.

2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet. Spring Mountain muscle. Old-school bones. No makeup.

The cork comes out with that low, tired sigh—like it’s been waiting all week for this exact moment. First pour hits the glass dark and serious, not flashy, just a deep red that knows what it is. You swirl it slow.
Nose comes in first—blackcurrant, but not the candy kind. Crushed leaves. A little cedar, like an old desk that’s seen too many decisions. There’s heat in it, but it’s controlled. Nothing sloppy.

.It lands heavy—blackberry, cassis, a flash of plum—but it doesn’t sprawl. Tight grip. Tannins like a firm handshake that lasts a second too long. There’s a streak of mountain air in it, something dry and lifted, cutting through the weight so it doesn’t drown you in it. You get graphite, a little tobacco, maybe even a whisper of something savory—like the grill next door just caught flame.

Kickoff’s coming.

You take another pull, lean back, let the noise, the heat, the game, and the wine stack on top of each other.
This bottle wasn’t made for quiet tasting rooms.
It was made for nights like this—when everything’s a little too much, and that’s exactly how you want it.


https://www.instagram.com/p/DaRQwP7IO-f/

Owen Bargreen, June 26, 2026

This is a great accomplishment from this tough vintage. 

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

93 points: Coming from the Smith-Madrone estate in the Spring Mountain District, the 2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon is polished and round from this hot vintage. Tar, tobacco leaf and black currants all combine on the palate, with bright acidity. This is a great accomplishment from this tough vintage. Drink 2026-2036- 93


https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2026/6/27/smith-madrone

Wine Sipping, Oded Cohen, June 26, 2026

Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and complex, with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Left Bank Bordeaux.

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

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.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. 
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 beef brisket.


https://winesipping.wordpress.com/2026/06/26/smith-madrone-vineyards-spring-mountain-district-cabernet-sauvignon-2022-napa-valley-california/

Andy Chalk, The Chalk Report, June 10, 2026

Outstanding

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Outstanding. A style of Cabernet Sauvignon that other Napa producers are coming back to. Not the biggest, not the most tannic. Rather, an attempt to create a balanced nose and palate in the most respectful use of the word. This wine attends to being pleasant to drink and not a lopsided showmeister. Very welcome and highly recommended.

Flavor characteristics: Fruit (raspberry, blackberry), wood (cedar), pencil lead, cinnamon, pyrazines, herbal undertones (marjoram, thyme). Fruit leads but is balanced by the herbal components.
Other observations: Still a young wine. Mainly primary and secondary components. The structure means it will likely age for a decade or longer.

My initial surprise at a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon being so reasonably priced (and with Estate fruit, to boot) led via the tasting to my final assessment that this is one to collect. The Smiths and their team are a ballast to the traditions of Napa in an environment that has been whisked around by fashion in the past and is changing maybe faster than ever right now. The combined effects of reduced consumer demand for wine, high costs of operating in Napa, and increased competition from abroad have led to winery sales, bankruptcies, and repurposing of vineyard land. Smith-Madrone is a fact on the ground reminding us of what many others are moving away from. I like their singular cast of mind. I love their wines.


https://www.thechalkreport.com/post/smith-madrone-2022-cabernet-sauvignon-estate-bottled-napa-valley-spring-mountain-district-ca-7

Dan Berger, Napa Valley Focus, June 17, 2026

Smith Madrone is one of only about a dozen Napa properties that understand the historic cabernet legacy of this Valley. It continues to adhere to the principles that produced worldwide accolades for California cabernets 50 years ago in Paris.

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

The phrase “mountain-grown” should, seriously, mean a lot more than it does. A few coffee suppliers use the term. It also is used by a Colorado company that sells flowers that grow at 10,600 feet and by a mushroom extract company. An internet search of the term turns up several more people claiming special properties of their goods because they come from higher altitudes. It is also true for cabernet sauvignon when other attributes (proper soils, good farming, sound winemaking tactics) are all employed. And this wine is an exemplary example of what it is all about.

What this wine is not about is simply concentration, although it has that, too. Some mountain-grown cabernet is little more than weighty, big and brawny. Anyone who knows this wonderful 55-year-old project knows it relies on an annual combination of intense aromatics that represent the grape. Oak is not obvious. The structure is ideal for trying with food now but also allows it to age with remarkable consistency, almost regardless of the vintage. The reason is altitude and a philosophy to adhere to a near-perfect house style.

This vintage might have proven to be a little dicey for some North Coast wineries because it was marked by a lot of heat, which often produces cabernets of clumsiness and insufficient acidity. This wine adheres to the winery’s classic balanced style. It has aromas of blackberry with traces of dried herbs, an amazingly fruit-driven entry and a perfect balance of flavors in the aftertaste that portend great things in a decade or three. Oak is not an issue; there is a trace of cedar, but it is completely integrated. Growing in volcanic soils at the very top of Spring Mountain, these dry-farmed vines benefit from slightly cooler temperatures than those on the Napa Valley floor because of altitude (1,800 to 2,000 feet). Smith Madrone is one of only about a dozen Napa properties that understand the historic cabernet legacy of this valley. It continues to adhere to the principles that produced worldwide accolades for California cabernets 50 years ago in Paris. At the price the winery is charging, this ought to be at the top of everyone’s mandatory-buy list.


https://napavalleyfocus.substack.com/p/wine-chronicles-when-dry-wine-isnt

Nancy Brazil, PullThatCork, June 19, 2026

Dark ruby with generous aromas of ripe blackberries, cedar and baking spices. Flavors include blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, cedar, alfalfa hay and dried tobacco, all supported by fresh acidity and well-integrated, fine tannins in a medium body

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

On May 15, 2026, Stu and Charlie Smith, along with François Bugué, the Smiths’ associate winemaker, celebrated Smith-Madrone Vineyard & Winery’s 55th birthday. The celebration marked Stu’s signing of the paperwork in 1971 to acquire the Spring Mountain property that is home to Smith-Madrone’s vineyards and winery. Stu and Charlie started planting the vineyard the next year and their first vintage was 1977.

The picturesque vineyard and winery occupy but a fraction of the forested 200-acre property near the top of Spring Mountain District AVA. About 34 acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with some plantings dating back to 1972. The vines are largely dry-farmed and planted over steep hillsides at elevations between 1300 and 2000 feet above sea level. Specific grape varieties are planted at particular slopes, elevations and exposures to best suit each variety. Annual production is between 3000 and 4000 cases, sourced entirely from estate vineyards, made, aged and bottled in the estate winery. 

Would it surprise you to learn that the Smith brothers built the winery themselves using wood and rock harvested from the property? That hands-on approach is reflected in the team’s winemaking choices as well. They know every block of grapes front-to-back. Their winemaking blends traditional methods from France and Germany with the newest winemaking advances in California. And they make the style of wine they enjoy drinking: elegant, refined wines that reflect their origin. And it’s a style many of us enjoy as well. 

The 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark ruby with generous aromas of ripe blackberries, cedar and baking spices. Flavors include blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, cedar, alfalfa hay and dried tobacco, all supported by fresh acidity and well-integrated, fine tannins in a medium body. 

What a lovely Cab — especially lovely, I’d say. As I poured a glass of wine and photographed it for this post, the complexity of the aromas was notable. The flavors that followed were equally complex and fresh. This is a Cabernet I could, and did, enjoy even in summer. The blend, which varies a bit every vintage, is 81.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.5% Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in 50% new French oak for 18 months.


https://pullthatcork.com/2026/2022-smith-madrone-cabernet-sauvignon-cabernet-for-a-special-birthday/

Alder Yarrow, Vinography, June 20, 2026

An elegant and very ageworthy bottling

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Lastly, my favorite of the three Napa Cabernets I tasted this week was the 2022 vintage from Smith-Madrone up on Spring Mountain. Brothers Stu and Charlie Smith have been making classically styled wines from their hillside vineyards for more than 50 years. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that their 2022 vintage shows very little of the heat effects that characterized many other Cabernets from the same vintage. The combination of their tree-shaded hillsides and so many decades of experience meant for an elegant and very ageworthy bottling from a trickier-than-normal year.

Dark to very dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherries, conifer boughs, chopped green herbs, and black currants. In the mouth, fine powdery tannins coat the mouth and surround a core of black cherry, black currant, cola, and licorice root. Excellent acidity keeps things fresh and bouncy on the palate, and the nicely restrained alcohol helps contribute to the overall sense of freshness, a nice achievement in what was a very warm vintage. Will benefit greatly from a year or three in the bottle.


https://www.vinography.com/2026/06/vinography-unboxed-week-of-6-14-26

Meridith May, The Tasting Panel Magazine, July 2026

Linear waves of graphite and licorice are in rhythm with fruit and floral components. Acidity adds vivacity to the wine’s tension and striking structure. 

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

94 points: Focused notes of dried lavender, clove, and mint surrounds concentrated plum and blueberry. Linear waves of graphite and licorice are in rhythm with fruit and floral components. Acidity adds vivacity to the wine’s tension and striking structure. 



Michael Kelly, CaliforniaWinesandWineries, June 15, 2026

Complexity of this wine is astonishing, with flavor and character

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Opened this bottle last evening to enjoy a delightful meal. Was expecting a top-notch wine as I had previously tasted their 2021 vintage. What transpired was a wine that exceeded my already high expectations. 2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon was fragrant, fruit forward and soft going into the palate, yet once there, burst forth with intense dark fruit flavors and brute strength with perfectly enjoyable tannins – a joyous surprise.

On the eyes a deep penetrating purple and crimson coloring. In the glass, medium heavy viscosity. Then on the nose fresh red cherries burst in the olfactory senses with a violet scent. Once on the palate, luscious and impactful red and black berries filled the mouth with a bold and brawny yet caressing flavor with a secondary note of blueberries and light vanilla pipe tobacco.  At the finish a strong bold tannin showed the pedigree of this vineyard with their angularness and robustness. The minerality was also noted. This is why I believe this youthful wine will appreciate and improve with aging over the next 12-15 years. The complexity of this wine is astonishing with flavor and character.

The wine consists of 81.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18.5% of their award-winning Cabernet Franc. The wine is grown on their hillside estate being non-tilled and sustainably farmed. The wine was aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak. The wine came in at 14.2% alcohol with only 1518 cases being produced and priced at $70/bottle, a remarkable bargain for this quality.

This wine just made my annual list Best Wines Tasted for 2026. Only 2-3% of the 1800 wines tasted during the year make the list which comes out in December each year. My suggestion is to garner 4 or more bottles and have one now and every 2-3 years open another, if you can wait that long!

Paired this evening with a specially ordered, over a pound filet mignon steak, that was split with my wife. It was BBQ’ed and then seared at 1500 degrees and served medium rare. Served with a French Blue Cheese, butter and chive compote. Accompanied by a Yukon Gold potato and large artichoke. A delicious meal and the wine could have easily gone with a marbled ribeye steak also.

Here is where the Smith-Madrone shined with its fruit forwardness making it a wonderful flavor to the BBQ steak with strength and boldness enough with tannins to “cut through” the meat to making it a delightful meal.


https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2026/06/15/2022-smith-marone-cabernet-sauvignon-keep-your-eye-on-this-one/

Melanie Ofenloch, DallasWineChick, June 9, 2026

Smith-Madrone stands out as a winery rooted in place, patience, and purpose

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Smith-Madrone Winery & Vineyards is dedicated to estate-grown wines produced exclusively from its dry-farmed vineyards on a historic 200-acre ranch in the Napa Valley hills. With roots tracing back to the 1880s and a philosophy centered on careful stewardship of the land, the winery reflects both a deep respect for terroir and a commitment to low-intervention winemaking.  Founder Stu Smith purchased the ‘terroir’ in 1971 in partnership with family and friends after discovering that the land had been a vineyard in the 1880s. Along with his brother Charles Smith, Stuart Smith holds the title of vineyard manager and winemaker.  The winery produces a highly acclaimed, classic Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that is celebrated as a rare, budget-friendly “steal” in Napa Valley. Known for its elegant, old-school style, the wine offers bright acidity, complex minerality, and vibrant, dark mountain fruit.

 From its historic vineyard site to its hands-on farming approach, Smith-Madrone stands out as a winery rooted in place, patience, and purpose. Guided by the Smith brothers’ long-standing vision, the estate continues to produce wines that express the character of the land while honoring a tradition of sustainable, quality-focused grape growing.


https://www.dallaswinechick.com/2022-smith-madrone-cabernet-sauvignon/

Vic Abnoosi, Autovinography, June 1, 2026

Lively mountain freshness...mouth-filling mid-palate, balanced by firm, polished tannins....a Cabernet with both immediate charm and serious cellar potential

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Today's wine feature is from Smith-Madrone, one of Spring Mountain’s most authentic and quietly legendary estate producers. Founded in 1971 by Stu Smith, who purchased a remote, forested piece of mountain land at just 22 years old, Smith-Madrone sits high above Napa Valley on steep slopes between roughly 1,300 and 2,000 feet. The property had once been vineyard land in the 1880s, and Stu, along with his brother Charles Smith, helped bring it back to life with a deep respect for mountain farming, dry farming, and old-school Napa craftsmanship. The name honors both the Smith brothers and the madrone trees that distinguish the estate. Today, the winery remains family-run, estate-grown, and estate-bottled, producing wines that speak clearly of Spring Mountain’s rocky volcanic soils, cooler exposures, and rugged hillside character.

The wine is the 2021 Smith-Madrone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Mountain District. Built from 81.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.7% Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Merlot, this wine shows the elegance and structure that mountain Cabernet can deliver so beautifully. The nose opens with blue-black and red fruit, floral lift, pepper, and a lively mountain freshness. On the palate, it carries generous fruit with a creamy, mouth-filling mid-palate, balanced by firm, polished tannins and a long, grippy finish. Aged 18 months in 65% new French oak, this is a Cabernet with both immediate charm and serious cellar potential — a perfect bottle for steak night, sunset views, and a reminder of why Spring Mountain continues to produce some of Napa’s most distinctive wines.


https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCAH0zG7xI/?img_index=1

Stephen Bradley, VinePair, May 26, 2026

Herbaceous palate and full-bodied

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

In Smith-Madrone’s Cabs, expect aromas of red fruit to jump from the glass before giving way to a herbaceous palate with floral and peppery notes. The winery’s take on Cabernet is typically full-bodied, in part a result of the use of barrel, but not overwhelmingly so. A gripping acidity tends to come at the end to refresh the palate.

from:

The Napa Cabs You Should Try if You Don’t Like Big, Jammy Wines 

In their heyday, Napa Cabs were nothing like today’s stereotypical version. The flower-power vibe of the 1970s was apparent in the rough-around-the-edges, lively, vegetal, and experimental Cabs of that period. Then came the critic Robert Parker and the development of winemaking technology — two forces that influenced winemakers and consumers alike to acquire a taste for bold, high-alcohol, jammy expressions. In turn, the term “Napa Cab” has become almost entirely synonymous with these teeth-kicking reds. Some current winemakers in the region, however, are reverting to the very style that earned Napa Cabs their initial fame. These producers prefer acidic, vibrant, herbaceous wines and are showing consumers that Cabernet Sauvignon is more versatile than most people think. If you’re looking for something more elegant — or even if post-’70s, bold Napa Cabs are your thing — here are five Napa producers that are ushering the region’s old-school style into the new age: Corison, Frog’s Leap Winery, Matthiasson Wines, Mayacamas and Smith-Madrone.


https://vinepair.com/articles/napa-winemakers-light-style-cabernet-sauvignon/

Amateur Sommelier, Alec Termer, April 22, 2026

An intellectual, high-altitude pour that’s more about grit and grace than sugar and spice

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’re tired of Napa Cabs that taste like liquid oak and overpriced jelly, this 2021 Smith-Madrone is your wake-up call. Born on the steep, rugged slopes of Spring Mountain, this isn't a "polished-for-the-masses" red; it’s got a high-altitude energy that feels like a hike through the forest. It pours with a confidence that says, "I have a story to tell."
​
The nose is individualistic. You get an immediate "aromatic zap" of wild mountain berries and dark plum, but then the cool stuff hits: think graphite, dried sage, and a hint of that classic Spring Mountain "mountain mint." It’s earthy, savory, and sophisticated without being stuffy.
​
On the palate, this wine has serious bite It’s not soft or flabby; it’s lean, mean, and incredibly focused. The tannins are firm but silky—like a well-tailored suit—while the acidity stays "snappy" and bright, keeping the dark cocoa and black currant flavors from feeling heavy. It’s an intellectual, high-altitude pour that’s more about grit and grace than sugar and spice. Perfect for when you want a wine that actually demands your attention.


https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZft5tmHod/

Dr. Matthew Horkey, March 6, 2026

Napa Cab value alert

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Cab value alert! One of the affordable great deals in Napa Valley Cabernet today. I love this wine; they actually farm.....Check it out!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkObK55vRSA

Dr. Matthew Horkey YouTube, January 26, 2026

Kudos! They're still farmers....

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Dr. Matthew Horkey tastes on his YouTube Channel: TEXAS vs Napa vs Washington vs BORDEAUX!!! California is king when it comes to American wines but there are other states making wine too - Washington, Oregon, New York, and Texas. Join me for this Bordeaux blend blind tasting. L’Ecole No 41 Ferguson Vineyard Red 2022; Château Haut-Batailley 2018; Smith Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.

Smith-Madrone are still farmers....kudos.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTa4-Pg2eXA

David Leech, Instagram, December 25, 2025

Playful, a pleasure to drink now and will age really well

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s Christmas Day and I’ve been waiting all week to open this lovely wine. It was a gift, a very special wine. Smith-Madrone originated in the ‘70s in Napa Valley. They’re on the top of Spring Mountain. Most of these vineyards on the bottom/floor of the Napa Valley are exposed to a whole lot of heat all year long so they give very decadent opulent rich wine. However the altitude of this vineyard gives freshness and acidity leading to hopefully a more elegant wine. Let’s smell. There’s a potpourri of red and dark fruits. It’s nice and fresh. There’s a hint of bay leaf; green pepper as you’d expect from the Cabernet Sauvignon and a little bit of cedar and cigar box from the oak. This wine should develop over years if it is properly cellared. It has a really nice aroma and really nice smell now. To taste, a lovely balance between red currants and blackberry fruits. The acidity and freshness really lift the wine, making it playful, a pleasure to drink now. There’s a nice long finish, lots of structure. It will age really well for the next 10 years or so. I might buy another bottle to lay down in the cellar if I have the patience to leave it that long but for now we’ll enjoy it over Christmas dinner. Merry Christmas to everyone.


https://www.instagram.com/p/DSsbhgcjBt5/

Tasting Panel Magazine, May 2026

Majestic

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Publisher’s Picks, 95 points: With 17.7% Cabernet Franc and a touch of Merlot, this majestic Cab offers a woodsy opening, with grainy tannins. It’s packed with strawberry creaminess that flirts with vanilla and violets. An elegant red, possessing an on-going veil of floral and sweet herbal tones, with a grip of graphite on the finish. 



Enobytes, Pamela Heiligenthal, December 15, 2025

Cabernet for people who find most Napa Cabs exhausting

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet doesn’t announce itself with a roar but with a whisper that grows more insistent with each sip. There’s a savory, almost herbal quality threading through the dark cherry and blackberry fruit. Think dried sage and crushed stone rather than vanilla and chocolate. The tannins have grip without being aggressive, and there’s a coolness to the wine, a kind of mountain breeziness that keeps everything lifted and bright. It’s Cabernet for people who find most Napa Cabs exhausting. Pair it with: Grilled ribeye with rosemary and garlic, braised short ribs, or aged cheddar with fig jam. The wine’s structure can handle rich meats, while its herbal notes complement earthy preparations.

There’s something about wines made at altitude that seems to carry the mountain itself in the glass. At Smith-Madrone, perched at 1,800 feet on Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, brothers Stu and Charlie Smith have been farming their 38-acre estate since 1971, back when most winemakers thought they were slightly crazy for choosing such rugged, inaccessible terrain. More than fifty years later, that gamble has paid off in wines that taste like they’ve been carved from the mountainside itself—lean, focused, and utterly distinct from the riper, more opulent wines that dominate the Valley floor. The Smith brothers farm without irrigation, a practice that would be nearly impossible in warmer sites but works beautifully in their cool, fog-kissed location. The vines struggle in that rocky volcanic soil, sending roots deep in search of water, and what emerges are wines with remarkable concentration and natural balance. It’s old-school Napa winemaking; minimal intervention, native yeasts, extended aging, that feels refreshingly out of step with contemporary trends.


https://www.enobytes.com/2025/12/15/winebytes-smith-madrone/

Dr. Matthew Horkey Youtube channel, December 7, 2025

One of great affordable wines from Napa Valley

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Dr. Matthew Horkey reviews the Top 100 wines of 2025 chosen by The Wine Enthusiast, including 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (#29, 97 points) at 12:40. 

Well worth checking out...took to my European friends, everyone loved this wine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtX1o9mfeiw

Jeff Jenssen & Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, December 4, 2025

Drinking perfectly right now

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith purchased the land that would eventually become Smith Madrone Vineyards and Winery in 1971. Their 2021 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking perfectly right now after four years. It is composed of 81.9 percent Cab, 17.7 percent Cab Franc, and just a touch of Merlot and offers aromas of black currant, blueberry, crushed violet petals, and cinnamon. Slightly grippy tannins coat the mouth with flavors of cassis, red currant, plum, and a touch of nutmeg in the finish.

Cooler weather and the holidays are upon us, so it’s time to get together with family and friends, ideally with a glass of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in hand. And while we’re not shy about our pursuit of the AVA’s cult Cabs, we also love a value when we see one; especially this time of year. Whether you’re the host cracking multiple bottles a night for your party, or you’re a frequent guest always showing up to fêtes with wine in hand, its nice to have some great options for wines to break out that don’t break the bank. Because, after all, those usually aren’t the occasions when you’ll be diving deep into the cellar, instead you want a great wine that delivers bang for your buck. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Here are the 10 best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under $100 to buy right now.


https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/lists/best-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-under-100-dollars-2025-guide-1237391946/elizabeth-spencer-2019-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon/
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