Chardonnay Reviews
Tasting Panel Magazine, Michael Franz, May 2025
Superb quality
2021 Chardonnay
96 points: This producer’s practice of releasing wines into the market with at least one year’s worth of additional bottle age beyond the average pays excellent dividends in this case. Nutty, toasty, spicy barrel notes are now beautifully interwoven with the fruit flavors, which recall ripe peaches and baked apples. The sensory signals emitted by both the fruit and the high-class cooperage play off one another very well. Quite fairly priced in relation to its superb quality.
BiggerThanYourHead, Fredric Koeppel, March 13, 2025
Exceptional....spare elegance is exhilarating, ripe, engaging, enveloping....
2021 Chardonnay
https://biggerthanyourhead.substack.com/p/smith-madrone-chardonnay-and-cabernet?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1856101&post_id=159008712&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=1fsgt&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=emailThe color is light to medium straw-gold with a tinge of pale green; full-blown aromas of ripe pineapple and grapefruit are bolstered by notes of cloves, mango and lightly toasted hazelnuts; in the background — touches of damp limestone and flint, even a bit of graphite; a few moments in the glass conjure hints of quince and crystallized ginger; these elements segue seamlessly to the palate, where vibrant acidity sets the tone and the taut, risky balance between lushness and crisp, spare elegance is exhilarating; ripe, engaging, enveloping, this chardonnay unfurls strains of jasmine and acacia blossom, along with the juicy maturity of slightly over-ripe pear; the finish is a welter of limestone and seashell. A remarkable performance. Now through 2030 to ‘33. Exceptional.
Brothers Stu and Charlie Smith planted their vines in 1972, high atop Spring Mountain, 1,900 feet above Napa Valley and west of the town of St. Helena. They dry-farm — that means no irrigation — the 38 acres of vines that grow out of the volcano-based rocky soil; the hillsides are so steep that some areas slope at a perilous 35 degree pitch. The Smiths produce mainly cabernet sauvignon wines, with lesser amounts of riesling and chardonnay and a recently added rosé, and they don't make too damned much of any of it, to the regret of their fans, of whom I am one, as you may remember from previous reviews. Matters proceed in an old-fashioned style at Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery. There's no palatial facility or art museum and no high-tech tasting room, just a modest but clean and well-constructed wooden building that suits its purpose. In fact, "suiting the purpose" might be the motto at Smith-Madrone, a practical yet somehow visionary winery where no effort is wasteful, and no attempt is made to fit its products into the range of contemporary palates conditioned by over-ripe fruit and high alcohol. The Smith brothers have been making wine this way for 50 years. The chardonnay reviewed today is exemplary for their place, their region, their method and their grape varieties. And compared to most other chardonnays of this quality from Napa Valley, it remains a good value.
John Jackson, AttorneySomm, March 6, 2025
Vibrant and complex
2021 Chardonnay
https://www.instagram.com/p/DG3JyKwPxC_/?img_index=1Near the top of Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain, you’ll find Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery, where vineyards are planted on steep slopes between 1,300 and 2,000 feet. With 38 acres of vines on a 160-acre ranch, the winery has long championed dry farming, a method that encourages vines to dig deep for water and nutrients. This results in lower yields and concentrated fruit, contributing to wines with remarkable depth and structure.
Smith-Madrone dedicates 5 acres to Chardonnay, planted in the estate’s coolest vineyard with north-east facing slopes to preserve freshness and balance.
I recently had the opportunity to taste the 2021 Smith-Madrone Estate Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Chardonnay, which was barrel-fermented and aged for 10 months in 50% new French oak.
This Chardonnay was vibrant and complex, with layers of Meyer lemon, nectarine, ginger, honeysuckle, wet stone, and spice. It offered a rich, creamy texture yet remained beautifully balanced with bright acidity. An intriguing and expressive wine—especially enjoyable on a cozy night by the fireplace!
PullThatCork, Nancy Brazil, March 5, 2025
The flavors are bright, intense and fruity with juicy acidity that leaves me salivating...to describe the wine as elegant is no overstatement
2021 Chardonnay
https://pullthatcork.com/2025/smith-madrone-2021-chardonnay-a-taste-of-springtime-in-your-glass/Honestly, sometimes a wine comes along at the exact right time. Such is the case with the recently released 2021 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay. It tastes just like what I’m ready for — springtime. After tasting several vintages of this wine, I have a certain expectation: Chardonnay that expresses the vintage with only a gentle guiding hand from the winemakers. Every vintage has its own signature. Some vintages reflect the subtle influences of oak more than others, but always the flavor of mountain-grown Chardonnay is fully expressed.
Brilliant light golden color with aromas of stone fruit along with hints of flowers, flint and toast in the background. The aromas carry over to the flavors, which include stone fruit, citrus and ripe pineapple, hints of toast with a bit of roundness and a long finish with notable, juicy acidity. Only 1001 cases made. The flavors are bright, intense and fruity with juicy acidity that leaves me salivating. Toasty notes in the aromas and flavors hint at its barrel fermentation and aging for 10 months in new French oak. Right now I want to pair it with fresh ricotta ravioli with spring peas and fava beans. This Chardonnay is perfect for a meal.
Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery is located on Spring Mountain, above Napa Valley, at elevations between 1300 and 2000 feet. The slopes vary in steepness and sun exposure, and the thirty-odd acres of vineyards are surrounded by forest. Vineyard plantings include Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. The vineyard is dry-farmed (essentially no irrigation after the vines are established) and farmed sustainably.
Smith-Madrone was established in 1971 and after more than 50 years, brothers Stuart and Charles Smith remain the vineyard managers and winemakers of the winery. They have been joined by François Bugué, associate winemaker. To say the Smiths know their site and vineyards is an understatement. To describe their wines as elegant is no overstatement. Their estate-grown wines don’t chase fads. The Smiths continue making wines that they like to drink, as they have since day one.
TheWineGuys, February 25, 2025
Consistent and pure, year in and out, a gem
2021 Chardonnay
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGekZA3ve-7/Citrus peel, pomelo, quince, ginger, white peach, nectarine, crushed rock, white florals, and Asian spice. Cool toned orchard fruit on the palate, balanced by a backbone of crushed stone minerality and vibrant acidity. A surprising “spice” on the finish that we haven’t exactly experienced with other vintages, but a welcome one. The wine shows itself pretty fast with temp and air, so give this about a 15-30 minute decant and don’t serve it too cold to really appreciate the balance and terroir of this Chardonnay. There’s money to be made by planting Cabernet on the mountains, but keeping the Chardonnay planted on the hills makes this a unique wine to be appreciated. Consistent and pure, Smith Madrone Chardonnay year in and out is a gem.
Isaac James Baker, February 21, 2025
Uniquely crisp and mineral-driven..excellent aromatic display...lovely in its youth but will age nicely
2021 Chardonnay
tps://isaacjamesbaker.blogspot.com/2025/02/smith-madrone-continues-to-excel-with.html94 points: In times of some tumult, I turn to familiar joys. Hikes at my local park, visits with my owl friends in the woods, spending time with family and friends, and revisiting wines that have never let me down. For me, Spring Mountain’s Smith-Madrone is one of the most reliable producers in California wine. I’m of the opinion they make one of, if not the, best Rieslings in California – a crisp, complex, racy, and age-worthy white I’ve enjoyed many times. And their Cab: another stunner and friend of the patient cellar-owner, somehow flies just low enough under the radar as to remain a relative screaming bargain in the Napa Cab category. But my favorite is their Chardonnay. It’s uniquely crisp and mineral-driven, while showing the bountiful fruit and depth of their mountain vineyard terroir. And the legacy of duo Stu and Charles Smith lives on in the 2021 vintage. It’s worth every penny, delicious right now, but will surely reward those who cellar it. Let me know what you think if you’ve tried a Smith-Madrone wine recently. And, if the answer is “I never have” – you may want to reconsider.
Pretty yellow color. Excellent aromatic display of white peaches, lemon-lime, green apples, with sea salt, chalk dust, hints of hay and yellow flowers, and notes of honey, almond skin, and hazelnut. The palate sports such precision and lively acidity, balanced wonderfully with this creamy concentration of texture. Flavors of crunchy yellow apples, white peaches, and limes, matched by an infusion of minerals, chalk, and sea salt, with notes of hay, white and yellow flowers, hazelnut, and white pepper. I wrote “mineral city” and underlined it. Lovely in its youth, but this will age very nicely, too.
Oded Cohen, Oded's Wine Reviews, February 16, 2025
Elegant, rich and tasty
2021 Chardonnay
https://winesipping.wordpress.com/2025/02/16/smith-madrone-vineyards-spring-mountain-district-chardonnay-2021-napa-valley-california/Light yellow in color with a golden hue. Strong nose of yellow apples, light cedar, fresh apricots, light toasted nuts and spices. Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity. Dry on the palate with limes, apples, grapefruits, bitter herbs, light earth, honey, spices and white pepper. Long finish with lemons and light herbs. This young Chardonnay from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully right out of the bottle. Elegant, rich and tasty. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Juicy and entertaining, with light oak notes to compliment the fruits. Spicy and refreshing. Complex and engaging, and better when not too cold. I have had a few vintages of this wine, and it always delivers. This vintage seems to be much more approachable young. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a beautiful day by the pool.
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Cameron Kossen, February 6, 2025
Well balanced
2021 Chardonnay
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFl2EkLyTG8/One of my favorite AVAs in Napa is Spring Mountain. The cooler temps and elevation on the west side of St. Helena above the Valley produce some more nuanced wines. 2021 was an excellent vintage with a long and even growing season. Smith-Madrone produces some great wines: volcanic, well draining soils between 1,300-2,000 feet in elevation. This Chardonnay was very nice and well balanced. Flavors of orange blossoms, shaved almond, nectarine, ginger, lemon curd and pie crust. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak. A touch of minerality and a nice level of acidity. This vintage tastes great now and will evolve for at least another 5-7 years.
Michael Kelly, CaliforniaWinesandWineries, February 1, 2025
Crisp, lively and well-balanced
2021 Chardonnay
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2025/02/01/2021-smith-madrone-vineyards-chardonnay/This is the fourth vintage of Smith-Madrone Chardonnay I have had the opportunity to taste and all have been exquisite. WARNING: if you are a buttery or light Chardonnay wine lover, stop and don’t read this story. However, if you are looking for a bold, layered and scrumptious Chardonnay this is a must read.
This wine being dry farmed, has enough minerality to please a miner during the California Gold Rush! First upon opening the wine, a bouquet of springtime flowers immediately sprang forth almost overwhelming the senses. That typically does not happen! On the eyes, while possessing a light straw or golden coloring and medium body viscosity, something is “different”. Next on the nose, jasmine and honeysuckle aromas abounded. On the palate, minerality and fresh rain on granite stones come bursting to the forefront along with white stone fruits of nectarine and peach. The acidity was pronounced, pointed and clearly targeted for specific food pairings. The finish was crisp, lively and an is extremely dry and well-balanced Chardonnay. A tinge of lemon zest completed the tasting. This Chardonnay was a gem of a find.
The wine is from Spring Mountain, barrel fermented for 10 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. Only 1,001 cases were produced, and it goes for $45/bottle. The wine was just released in January 2025. Again, this will make my annual list of Best Tasted Wines during the year 2025.
The 2021 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay was selected for this meal with its acidity and citrus notes. The dinner was a blackened Swordfish steak. I picked up the fish in the morning at Ohana Seafood in Modesto and looked up various recipes on spices to be used. Choose the ingredients of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, thyme cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper. Served with long and short grain rice and plated with pineapple slices. Topped off with minced pineapple salsa, with minced fresh oregano. Sprigs of Thyme were also added on the side. The light citrus and fruit worked wonderfully with the blackened Swordfish. One of the best food and wine pairings in recent memory.
Believe that this wine would be excellent with fresh oysters, seafood, light sauce chicken and sashimi or sushi.
Planet Grape, Catherine Fallis, January 29, 2025
Exquisitely balanced
2021 Chardonnay
https://planetgrapewinereview.com/newworldwine_reviews/2021-smith-madrone-chardonnay-spring-mountain-district-napa-valley/Full, creamy, exquisitely balanced and dry with notes of peach tart, brioche, toasted almond and musk.
Jeff Kralik, The Drunken Cyclist, January 2024
Outstanding
2018 Chardonnay
https://thedrunkencyclist.com/2024/01/24/i-finally-made-it-up-to-smith-madrone/Outstanding. Hillside fruit. 100% malolactic fermentation. Barrel fermented. Batonage. According to Charlie: “Everything we do does not move the needle much, but just enough.” Gorgeous fruit on the nose with tropical fruit, white flower, and almond paste predominate. The palate is quite tart, with fruit at the forefront, hints of oak, and a subtle creaminess that defines Smith-Madrone.
Owen Bargreen, January 17, 2025
Palate is rich and viscous with serious nerve
2021 Chardonnay
https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2025/1/17/smith-madroneThis was sourced from their estate on Spring Mountain set on Aiken Stoney Clay loam. Aged for 10 months in 50% new French oak, this offers butterscotch and pie crust on the nose alongside shades of Japanese pear. The palate is rich and viscous with serious nerve. Lemon curd, shortbread and shades of papaya all meld together on the palate. This is a stunning edition of this wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2032.
Purely Domestic Wine Report, Doug Wilder, December 2024, Issue 11.1
Penetrating acidity
2019 Chardonnay
http://www.purelydomesticwinereport.com/The color is fresh and vibrant gold with a nose of fresh hay, pear, saline and nutmeg. The palate entry is sweet pear, lemon with a core of chamomile and stony-textured mineral finishing with penetrating acidity. Drink 2024-2034.
Gwendolyn Alley, Wine Predator, December 18, 2024
Mouthwatering acidity
2018 Chardonnay
https://winepredator.com/2024/12/18/enrich-your-holidays-with-napa-wines-part-1-chardonnay-from-flora-springs-frogs-leap-smith-madrone-sequoia-grove/Appearance: deep gold, sunshine gold, pale rim. Aroma: Bee pollen, fennel pollen, savory, chamise, sage, fennel frond, sandstone. Palate: Mouthwatering acidity, concentrated fruit, tart lemon, fresh pineapple, green apple, chamomile, so much freshness for a 2018, toasted bread, pine resin. Pairing: Very nice with the baked brie on fresh warm bread, Very nice with the Caesar salad, the fresh greens are so sweet and the wine is highlighted by the fresh garlic, the crackers were amazing with this wine, so fantastic with the buttery richness cracked pepper and rich salty parmesan cheese, absolutely a perfect pairing. We would have been happy with the wine and a plate of crackers, the wine likes the creamy richness of the risotto, however the squash is a bit too sweet and make the wine a bit tart, great with the shrimp bisque, bot the wine and the soup just popped while lingering together in the glass. Favorite pairing of the night with this wine was the shrimp bisque and the Parmesan crackers.
Gwendolyn Alley, Wine Predator, December 18, 2024
Lots of character
2019 Chardonnay
https://winepredator.com/2024/12/18/enrich-your-holidays-with-napa-wines-part-1-chardonnay-from-flora-springs-frogs-leap-smith-madrone-sequoia-grove/Appearance: yellow gold, lemon, pale straw. Aroma: Lots of character on the nose, lemon, lemons and herbs, sage, thyme, bright acidity, hint of smoke, lemon chicken on the grill, grilled Meyer lemon, clean minerals on the finish. Palate: Nicely rich, butterscotch, grilled Meyer lemon, sage, very expressive, great acidity, grilled pineapple, very nice wine. Pairing: Very nice with the Caesar salad and more than that fabulous with the crab, just the right richness and sweetness to dance perfectly with the wine, very good with the rich squash risotto, and very nice with the baked brie; it was perfect with the rich brie sweet honeycomb and the sprinkling of lavender. Favorite pairing was with the baked brie with fresh honey and lavender. Even with a decent amount of honey which you would think would be too sweet, it worked beautifully,
AdVinetures, Chris & Alison Wallace, December 11, 2024
Juicy acidity...so delicious....Excellent+
2019 Chardonnay
https://advinetures.ca/smith-madrone-vineyards-rooted-in-resilience/Bright gold in colour. Lovely aromas of orchard fruits and citrus notes. On the palate this shows a medium+ body that gives us good textural components; in fact hits just the right notes of viscosity for our palates. The texture is framed by juicy acidity and creates the sensations of fullness and linearity at the same time. Very intense flavours of apple and pear with a hint of honey. There is a slight nutty quality, elusive and hard to pin down, but evoking hazelnuts. The finish is long and juicy and tinged with citrus notes. So delicious! Excellent+ (USD$45 *terrific value for this quality level)
AmateurSommelier, Alec Termer, November 22, 2024
Well-balanced, crisp, refreshing
2019 Chardonnay
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCrhRWPRSX4/Crisp and refreshing, this Chardonnay has a bite! Definitely not like the overly oaked buttery Chardonnays, this one focuses more so on the natural character of the grapes themselves. The aroma is lively in the glass with lemon, tropical citrus, vanilla, toasted almond, white peach, some floral, and a little cream. The taste is crisp, full of bright lemon, tropical citrus, a little honey, almond, orange blossom, some slight toasted vanilla bean in the end, and some minerality. This is a bright, crisp, and refreshing Chardonnay. The acidity instantly opens up your taste buds, making you salivate and prepares you for the rest of the experience. The lemon is the central taste starting off the descent of flavors. The tropical fruits are secondary and remain slightly under the lemon. After the acidity starts to settle, you begin to get the softer floral and honey. Through the aftertaste, the almond and toasted vanilla start to emerge, never really taking hold as a main element of the tasting experience. So, in all a well-balanced Chardonnay that is crisp and refreshing, something to really highlight the quality of the fruit it is made from.
Ellen Landis, EllenOnWine, September 30, 2024
Well-crafted, impressive depth and complexity
2019 Chardonnay
https://ellenonwine.com/ellen-on-wine/tcn12mxtfrpbuklghsxczwrznqvkhe-7blkdThe exceptional fragrance of tree fruits and honeysuckle will have you hanging over the glass for a good while. Invigorating on the palate as layers of citrus-splashed Bosc pears, sauteed Golden Delicious apples, a thread of minerality, and subtle tinges of butterscotch meld seamlessly. This well-crafted Chardonnay boasts impressive depth and complexity. Finely managed oak sits perfectly in the background, while hints of ginger snaps add dimension through the extended finale.
Clive Pursehouse, Decanter Magazine, August 2024
This is one of the finest Napa wines in existence for $45
2019 Chardonnay
https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/usa/california/smith-madrone-chardonnay-napa-valley-spring-mountain-7418295 points: The Smith-Madrone Chardonnay over-delivers again with the 2019 bottling. This is one of the finest Napa wines in existence for $45. Rich, showy aromas of honeyed pear, candied ginger and a rich lemon cream eschew oak for purity of fruit. The palate is mouthwatering in its depth of flavour and flashes complexity and refinement. Rich lemon curd, beeswax and lanolin are accented against notes of nutmeg, cardamom pod and petrichor. It is gorgeous in its depth yet with ample elegance and finesse. A joyous wine that promises to develop further complexity with bottle age.
Stephen Bainbridge, ProfessorBainbridge.com, June 2023
Highly recommended
2019 Chardonnay
https://www.professorbainbridge.com/Another stellar wine from our friends at Smith-Madrone. Great match for a roast chicken with stuffing and honey glazed carrots. Apricot, pear, and lemon on the nose. Pear, lemon, kiwi on the palate. A distinct mineral note on both, somewhat reminiscent of a Chablis. Unlike most Napa Chardonnay, it will age. If I had a criticism, I'd like a pinch more new oak. But just a pinch. Highly recommended.
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, July 2024
A crisp spine of bright citrusy acids runs from front to back
2019 Chardonnay
https://www.robertparker.com/wines/E8nGzn5p8SMBEejhk/smith-madrone-chardonnay-201990 points: Barrel-fermented and aged nine months in 55% new French oak, the 2019 Chardonnay features scents of toasted hazelnut, baking spices and lemon curd. A crisp spine of bright, citrusy acids runs from front to back of the palate, lingering refreshingly on the finish.
Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.com, July 2024
Full-bodied palate
2019 Chardonnay
Golden straw in appearance. Aromas of pineapple, beeswax and asparagus. The palate is full-bodied, displaying notes of preserved lemons, orange blossoms and flint complemented by a textured and creamy mouthfeel and firm acidity. Drink or hold.
Eve Bushman, Wine101, May 31, 2024
The finish went on and on
2019 Chardonnay
https://evewine101.com/2024/05/31/reviewing-the-new-releases-from-smith-madrone/Very bold gold color, with deeper gold edge. The nose was full of vanilla custard, honey, bruised Golden Delicious apple, bread yeast, cantaloupe melon, sawdust, and wet earth. The taste brought up memories for me of overripe pineapple, lemon tart, limeade, fleshy peach, and salted butter. The mouthfeel was both round and tangy, and the finish went on and on. I enjoyed this very much with a cheese and charcuterie board.
PullThatCork, Nancy Brazil, June 7, 2024
A gorgeous Chardonnay
2019 Chardonnay
https://pullthatcork.com/2024/smith-madrone-mountain-winemaking-at-its-best/Light golden with aromas of ripe pears and melons with hints of toast. Flavors include melons, pears, citrus and hints of sweet oak. The body is a bit round with fresh, juicy acidity and a very long finish. What a lovely, complex, vibrant Chardonnay. Yes, it is barrel-fermented and aged for nine months in 55% new French oak, but the oak is well integrated and doesn’t trample the complex flavors of the Chardonnay. In fact, that is one of the characteristics of Chardonnay grown on the mountainside according to Charlie— it stands up to oak aging. This is a gorgeous Chardonnay for a meal (or to sip while preparing a meal).
I have a thing for mountainside vineyards. Growing vines on the side of a mountain is definitely not the easiest place to grow them, but some of the most interesting and complex wines I’ve tasted are grown there. Smith-Madrone wines are both. They are also elegant, unexpected and affordable. Affordable and Napa Valley are sometimes mutually exclusive with regard to wine.
Stephen Bainbridge, ProfessorBainbridge.com, July 2023
Highly recommended
2018 Chardonnay
https://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2023/07/smith-madrone-chardonnay-spring-mountain-district-2018.htmlAs longtime readers know, I'm a big fan of Smith-Madrone, which I think is one of the (what's the right word? small, boutique?) wineries in Napa. We've visited their facility on the top of Spring Mountain a couple of times and always enjoyed spending time with Charlie and Stu. We've drunk a lot of their wine over the years and have never had one that wasn't excellent. Their wines are usually drinkable on release but have the potential to age well. On top of which, they're very reasonably priced given the quality. As it approaches its fifth birthday, the 2018 is drinking really well. This is a very well balanced wine. Buttery oak/rich fruit/good acidity all play well together with none dominating. The color is a rich yellow-gold. On the nose and palate, one notices toast, vanilla, oak, Meyer lemon, and peach. I served it with pan-seared scallops and pea risotto, for which it was a great match. Highly recommended.
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
P.O. Box 451/ 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574
Telephone: 707.963.2283
