Cabernet Sauvignon Reviews

The Daily Meal, January 26, 2016

One of the very best Cabernets in Napa Valley at any price

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Year after year this is one of the very best cabernet sauvignons in Napa Valley at any price. Hints of cigar box, red cherry, and black pepper notes show up on the engaging nose. The palate is rich and layered with proportionate fruit flavors. Cherry and bits of cassis are of note. Earth, savory herbs, and a host of spice join continued red fruits on the long, persistent finish. You could pour this wine for any special occasion; it’s so good everyone will think you splurged. But for the incredibly reasonable price, why wait? Drink it on a Monday night with leftovers and treat yourself to this outstanding wine.


http://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/what-drink-every-week-year-52-wines-2016-slideshow/slide-51

Wine & Spirits Magazine, December 2015

91 points, one of year's best U.S. Cabernets

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Minty and tense, this is a narrow vintage of cabernet from the heights of Spring Mountain. There’s black-fruited flesh to it, along with pine forest scents that make it both rich and skinny (can a wine ever be too skinny and too rich?). A potent, youthful cabernet, this is built for the cellar. 



Wine & Spirits Magazine, December 2015

93 points, one of year's best U.S. Cabernets

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Stu and Charles Smith planted 20 acres of vines in 1972. Given the remoteness of their site, on steep slopes rising to 2,000 feet, they decided to plant without rootstock. Nearly two acres of the original cabernet vines still survive, now part of a 34-acre, dry-farmed vineyard producing riesling, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. This wine, ripened above the fog line, feels untroubled by the cool, late 2011 harvest. In fact, it feels saturated with brisk Pacific air, with deep flavors of black currants and the spicy scent of the redwood forest that surrounds these vines. The texture is gentle, without an overt sense of tannic extract, the wine’s intensity built on cool-ripened fruit.



BiggerThanYourHead, by Fredric Koeppel, January 9, 2016

Excellent

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Chosen as one of Fredric Koeppel's 50 Great Wines of 2016.


http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2016/01/09/50-great-wines-of-2015/

Decanter Magazine, February 2016 issue, by Adam Lechmere

94 points

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vibrant blue fruit on the nose then a fresh and savoury palate with ripe, perfumed damson, finely structured tannins and refreshing acidity. 



Hawk Waka Waka Wine Reviews, January 3, 2016

One of the treasures of Napa Valley

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Beautiful aromatics of cedar and herbs carry into a palate of iron and spice with mixed dark fruit. The Smith-Madrone 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon carries a surprising composure – ample flavor on a moderate body with a supple-while-snappy backbone of tannin. Mouthwatering acidity balances through a long finish. This is a young, taut wine today that would benefit from a few years in cellar.

Alternatively, it opens significantly on the second and third day with the fruit that sits behind the herbal elements on the first day stepping decidedly to the fore. For those familiar with Smith-Madrone’s green and lean 2011 Cabernet, the 2012 is a completely different animal. The brothers tout the by-vintage character of their winemaking and the Cabernet serves as a perfect illustration of that truth.


http://wakawakawinereviews.com/2016/01/04/why-i-love-smith-madrone/

California Grapevine, January 2016

Highly recommended

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Medium-dark ruby; fragrant, herbal, cassis, black cherry, and blackberry fruit aroma with hints of green olive and bell pepper; full body; herbal, cedary, red and black fruit flavors that are nicely balanced; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Approachable now and worthy of further bottle aging. Highly recommended. 



Eater.com by Daryna Tobey, December 21, 2015

Lots of personality, holds its own next to wines twice its price

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Eater decided to taste through Napa's top 2012 Cabernet Sauvignons available today, and below, the best bottles—from big and modern to classically styled—at a variety of price points. Smith-Madrone’s 2012 Cabernet is made from dry-farmed grapes grown at an elevation of 1,800 feet, at the top of Spring Mountain. This medium-bodied wine has lots of personality: Bright blueberry and blackberry notes on the nose are edged in tea and fresh herbs. In the mouth, bright berry and plum notes are framed in the flavors of pencil lead, tobacco, and black olive. Ripe and textured on the mid-palate, this wine closes with hints of toast and thyme. It holds its own next to wines twice its price.


http://www.eater.com/drinks/2015/12/21/10631634/napa-valley-best-cabernet-sauvignon

Napa Valley Then & Now by Kelli A. White

One of the very best 2011s

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the very best 2011s, the Smith-Madrone is utterly gorgeous, with a complex nose of red apple skin, crushed flowers, dried herbs, freshly ground nutmeg and a stately pine. The palate is surprisingly ripe and rich, but with an extra touch of lift and focus. The long, spicy finish is elegant and racy. Superb.


http://www.napavalleythenandnow.com/

The Drunken Cyclist

Outstanding. 91-93 Points.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

I have been writing this blog for close to four years now and have been drinking wine for about 37 times that. I still have not figured out Napa Cabernet. On one hand there are the big, muscular, jammy, $300/bottle wines for which all the critics seem to offer up their first-born son. Then there are wines like this: reserved, subtle fruit, good acidity, but nothing like their bombastic “brethren.” So how do you evaluate a wine? Do you judge it against its peers, against what is “typical” for the region? Or do you take it on its own, with a meal, and a bit of context? I prefer the latter. Paired with the medium rare skirt steak, Israeli couscous, and grilled asparagus, this was a near perfect match melding in well as a complementary element, but still demanding attention. Subtle red berry fruit (with a tinge of bell pepper), a bit of campfire smoke, and black pepper was followed with some earth and a hint of anise on the palate. Over the course of the bottle, I vacillated from impressed, intrigued, encouraged, and ultimately very pleased. This is solid proof that more of an old-world style approach can excel in Napa. 


http://thedrunkencyclist.com/2015/10/21/on-my-short-list-smith-madrone/

James Suckling, July 2015

90 points

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

A silky red with blackberry, currant and mahogany character. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish.



Sunset Magazine, September 2015, Sara Schneider

Solid and elegant structure

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Given the prospects (re drought), dry-farming seems eerily relevant. And in a happy coincidence, dry-farmed wines might just be better wines. Weigh the evidence with these water-wise wines….A swirl of tobacco, mocha and vanilla leads to dark plum and briary berries, with solid and elegant structure.



Vinous Media by Antonio Galloni, August 2015

94 points

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Ripe, voluptuous and very much in the style of the year, the 2012 is a showy wine, with plenty of intensity and resonance. At the same time there is plenty of tannic backbone lurking beneath that gives the wine its power and overall structure.



JamesSuckling.com July 2015

90 points

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

Lots of subtle mint and currant character here. Full body, velvety tannins and a soft, juicy finish. A stylish, almost traditional Napa cabernet. 



Virginie Boone, The Wine Enthusiast, June 2015

91 points

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

From the producer’s dry-farmed estate vineyard, and supported by small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine is elegant in sage and black cherry, silky on the palate in satisfying ways. Savory tea and an element of chocolate truffle give it additional complexity around a core of silky tannin.


http://buyingguide.winemag.com/catalog/smith-madrone-2011-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-spring-mountain

WineChic blog by Katie Curley-Katzman, June 7, 2015

Silken with elegant finish

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

This one had me hooked right away. Beautiful aroma of humidor and mocha. On the palate the wine is silken with elegant finish. Flavors of blackberry and cocoa, beautiful balance. Like the baby Jesus wearing velvet pantaloons. I only use that saying for my very favorites.


https://thewinechic.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/smith-madrone-wines-of-the-gods/

Robert Neralich blog, June 1, 2015

Powerful and elegant

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Blended from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, this complex wine is both powerful and elegant. Its impressive flavor profile includes dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and plum, with notes of mocha, spice, raspberry, and vanilla lingering in the background. These perfectly integrated flavors are supported by firm but supple tannins and close in a long, resonant finish.


http://www.robertneralich.com/category/food-and-wine/

Examiner.com by Melissa Vogt, May 28, 2015

Elegant, expredssive, intricate

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Planted at 1,800 feet elevation on steep (up to 35% gradient) slopes with southern and western sun exposures—exhibits lively aromatics and a true Bordeaux-style palate. This isn’t a big, jammy-fruit Napa Cab by any means. This is elegant, expressive and intricate with layers of complexity and texture. The nose is stunning with lively aromatics of mint, tobacco leaf, anise, wet rocks, pencil lead, black currant and black cherry. The palate shows incredibly complex flavors and textures with a very long finish. A medium body with integrated tannins and silky, dry texture is surrounded by subtle fruit flavors of red and black cherry, dried raspberry and a hint of blueberry in the background. These gentle fruit characteristics are beautifully poised against bittersweet dark chocolate, cocoa, rocky minerality, pencil lead and a touch of smoke. You can taste the varietal characteristics, the earth of the vineyard site and the delicate approach in the cellar. Nineteen months in French oak with a final blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot make this one of the most finessed and balanced Cabernet Sauvignons of the difficult 2011 vintage that I have tasted. Certainly a wine that is enjoyable now, but also built for long-term cellar aging.


http://www.examiner.com/list/smith-madrone-vineyards-winery-stunning-new-releases

The Fermented Fruit blog, Ryan O'Hara, May 29, 2015

91 points

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

91 points: A dark ruby red in the glass with aromas of bell pepper, cherries and currants framed by hints of menthol and cedar. In the mouth it’s a medium-bodied with a silky texture. A savory and herbal expression of Napa Cabernet revealing a focused core of sour cherry, blackberry and black currant is further nuanced by bell pepper, sage, wood smoke, minty tobacco and spice notes livened by vibrant acidity. It finishes with fine powdery tannin. This boutique Spring Mountain winery is producing stylish wines of substance that emphasize balance and restraint over sheer power.


http://thefermentedfruit.com/smith-madrone-vineyards-a-spring-mountain-must/

San Jose Mercury News, Laurie Daniel, April 20, 2015

Savory and structured

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Another good hillside cab is the 2011 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($48), which is a relative bargain among Napa cabs. It's savory and structured, with concentrated black fruit, notes of olive and anise and firm tannins.


http://www.mercurynews.com/eat-drink-play/ci_27919777/wine-re-evaluating-napas-2011-cabs

Enofylz Wine Blog, by Martin Redmond, April 16, 2015

Outstanding, 92-95 points

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark Ruby color with exuberant cassis, tobacco, cedar, plum, spiced black cherry, and a bit of eucalyptus aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied and well-structured with ample cassis, black cherry, tobacco, and a bit of mineral flavors. Medium-Long finish. Outstanding; 92-95 points.


http://enofylzwineblog.com/2015/04/16/no-reservations-wine-tasting-smith-madrone-vineyard-winery/

Mary Ewing-Mulligan, WineReviewOnLine, March 31, 2015

91 points

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

91 points: As a fan of Smith-Madrone’s Cabernet Sauvignon, I looked forward to tasting the 2011 to learn how the winery fared in a vintage that was challenging in Napa Valley. I was not disappointed. Typically, I find elegance and restraint in Smith-Madrone’s mountain-grown Cabs, and those are also characteristics that I’ve enjoyed in other 2011 Napa Cabs that I have liked. The Smith-Madrone 2011 is beautifully made, with sleek, soft tannins, smooth-as-silk texture, and precise, concentrated flavors of small, dark berries and tangy minerals. Although it is still young, this wine does not require any particular aging to enjoy. I will not hesitate to order it in a restaurant as soon as I see it.


http://www.winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfm

Terroirist.com, Isaac Baker, March 31, 2015

93 points

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

93 points: Deep but bright purple color. A concentrated nose but it unwraps wonderfully with bright currants and plums, some intense notes of cedar, menthol, anise, smoke and paved road. Firm structure, the tannins are grippy but showing a coarse, dusty presence, and the acid comes in balances it out perfectly. Tart red and black currants, lots of them, with some spiced cranberry sauce. Such complex earth and herbal notes that I could ramble on about them for quite a while. Suffice it say this is very complex. The spice and cedar elements are woven in perfectly with the earth tones. Hints of eucalyptus and mint on the finish, which is long and pure. Delicious now, but will be a beauty once cellared for four or five years


http://www.terroirist.com/2015/04/wine-reviews-california-cabernet-3/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Terroirist+%28Terroirist%2

The Washington Post, Dave McIntyre, March 10, 2015

Exceptional: a top-notch elegant Cabernet

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Exeptional: In 2011 Smith-Madrone produced a top-notch, elegant cabernet that features Bordeaux-like characteristics of blackberry fruit with that graphite/pencil character wine lovers will recognize, plus lip-smacking, refreshing acidity. And if you can restrain from gulping the bottle, it’s even better the second night. 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/5-wines-to-try-this-week/2015/03/09/9aa774de-c384-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html

Palate Press, by David Honig, February 17, 2015

94 points, Highly Recommended

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

94 points: Highly Recommended. The color is dark, almost opaque at the center. On the nose, black currant and unsweetened chocolate take the lead. The real action is on the palate. Huge black fruits, deep, but not jammy, erupt, followed by unsweetened chocolate, espresso, mint, cedar, and a meaty umami. It’s chewy and fat, a big mouth-full but not a brute. Tannins are dusty, grippy, and acids offer a good counter-balance. Together, they suggest great reward for cellar patience. Hints of violet and herbs underneath all the fruit promise evolution into a high-toned floral delight after a decade or more. Drink it today, with a big ribeye or as a snack. Or cellar it until 2023 or later and drink with lamb chops or a fine filet.  


http://palatepress.com/2015/02/wine/drinking-smith-madrone-cabernet-sauvignon/
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