Chardonnay Reviews
WineChic blog, Katie Curley-Katzman, June 7, 2015
Truly spectacular
2012 Chardonnay
https://thewinechic.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/smith-madrone-wines-of-the-gods/Floral bouquet, lychee, lilac and lime. On the palate, bright, crispy with minerality, citrus peel notes. Every sip taught me something new, pushed me to reach further. This is truly spectacular.
Robert Neralich blog, June 1, 2015
Opulent texture
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.robertneralich.com/category/food-and-wine/Smith-Madrone 2012 Chardonnay has enticing aromas of spice, apple, and pear that lead to luscious lemon, papaya, green apple, and melon flavors accompanied by notes of mineral, honeysuckle, and toast. Its texture is opulent, and its finish is lingering and rich. This wine would make a good companion for most seafood and poultry dishes.
Examiner.com by Melissa Vogt, May 28, 2015
Full, enticing, wonderful fruit flavors
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.examiner.com/list/smith-madrone-vineyards-winery-stunning-new-releasesThis is exceptional, especially for those who enjoy the influence of oak balanced by terroir-driven characteristics. Spice-filled aromatics of cinnamon, ginger, green apple, honeydew melon and salted lemon leap from the glass. The palate is creamy and full with a lusciously round texture; background notes of caramel, burnt sugar and salted lemon mingle with foreground notes of papaya, green apple, lemon zest, minerality, clove and cinnamon. This Chardonnay is full and enticing, while still maintaining freshness and wonderful fruit flavors. Overall, the new releases from Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery are exquisite and enjoyable, and also pleasantly perfect for stocking up on and putting away in your cellar for a later date. Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith prove once again that terroir-driven wines from mountainous Napa Valley regions allow for winemakers to produce stunning, noteworthy wines of incredible quality.
The Fermented Fruit blog by Ryan O'Hara, May 29, 2015
2013 Chardonnay
http://thefermentedfruit.com/smith-madrone-vineyards-a-spring-mountain-must/91 points: Medium straw yellow in color. There’s an abundance of sweet, ripe aromas bursting from the glass including apples, pears, cantaloupe, and white flowers complemented by hints of lemon curd and wet stone. In the mouth the Smith Madrone Chardonnay is medium to full-bodied with a creamy yet spicy, zesty mouthfeel and a subtle undercurrent of mineral. While the fruit is ripe and rich, it maintains excellent balance and good persistence on the subtly toasty finish. A very good Napa Chardonnay exuding both power and grace. Considering that this sees 8 months in 100% new French oak, it is surprising how well integrated the oak influence is. This boutique Spring Mountain winery is producing stylish wines of substance that emphasize balance and restraint over sheer power.
The Capital Gazette, April 29, 2015, by Tom Marquardt
Most distinctive and delicious
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.capitalgazette.com/lifestyle/food/ph-ac-cn-wine-column-0429-20150429,0,3804412.storyOut of the many chardonnays we have recently tasted, this one from Napa Valley stands out to us as among the most distinctive — and the most delicious. It boasts layers of tropical fruit, citrus and pears with a hint of mineral and good acidity. Rich in fruit and texture.
Enofylz Wine Blog, Martin Redmond, April 16, 2015
Outstanding, 92-95 points
2012 Chardonnay
http://enofylzwineblog.com/2015/04/16/no-reservations-wine-tasting-smith-madrone-vineyard-winery/Pale lemon yellow color with promising green apple, pear. lemon cream, and limestone aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, fresh and harmonious with a creamy texture, and apple, pear, lemon zest, vanilla, a kiss of tropical fruit, and subtle spice flavors. Lingering finish. Outstanding; 92-95 points.
Terroirist.com, by Isaac Baker, March 28, 2015
92 points, a joy to drink
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.terroirist.com/2015/03/wine-reviews-california-chardonnay-4/#more-2045592 points: Light gold color. Such liveliness on the nose: chalk and crusty sea salt, bright limes, orange zest, lychee, lots of flowers, lumber yard shavings and even some white pepper. Fleshy but clean, with moderate acid, the white peach and lychee fruit mixes with all sorts of pears. Honeybutter and nougat show themselves prominently, but lots of sea salt and chalk notes come out as well. I couldn’t figure out this spice element so I poured the wine for a friend who called it minty. Whatever you call the spice note, it’s a really unique and tasty little signature. 100% new French oak, but this is a clean and bright wine, lots going for it. A joy to drink.
City County Observer, Robert Whitley, March 22, 2015
95 points, one of the finest Chardonnays I've yet tasted from this top-notch Napa Valley winery
2012 Chardonnay
http://city-countyobserver.com/wine-talk-better-with-age/Smith-Madrone may be more renowned for its cabernet sauvignon and riesling, but its chardonnay takes a back seat to no one. Spring Mountain is no stranger to world-class chardonnay, either, with Stony Hill, the neighboring vineyard, long holding sway among California chardonnay producers. This vintage of Smith-Madrone shows a toasty note on the nose, with a lemon oil nuance that is present in most great California chardonnays. With a stony mineral quality as well, this is one of the finest chardonnays I’ve yet tasted from this top-notch Napa Valley winery.
TheArmchairSommelier, March 7, 2015
92 points, lean and elegant with superb acidity and a graceful oak presence
2012 Chardonnay
https://armchairsommelier.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/snowed-in-with-smith-madrone/92 points: 100% Chardonnay. Fermented in new French oak for 8 months. Pale amber color. The nose is somewhat restrained — some faint buttered toast and pears. Lean and elegant, with superb acidity and a graceful oak presence. Definitely more to an old world style than new. Creamy mouthfeel with flavors of lemon curd and allspice, I feel like I’m drinking a lemon meringue pie. Finishes with a wedge of minerals that goes on for a minute (which is as long as I could wait before having another sip). Retail price = $32 (bargain alert!).
Michelle Williams, Rockin Red blog, January 19, 2015
Well-crafted, powerful flavors
2012 Chardonnay
http://rockinredblog.com/2015/01/19/taking-it-easy-with-smith-madrone/This wine poured a straw yellow into the glass and opened with rich aromas of toasted oak, cedar, minerals, and orchard fruit. On the palate this Chardonnay delivered powerful flavors of oak, slightly burnt-buttered toast, with Granny Smith apples, pears and crushed stone. It was certainly not a big fruit, buttery Chardonnay; rather, it was very earthy and driven with minerals and oak. It was round on the palate with a ripe acidity and elegant dryness on the finish. From my experience it tasted more like the Willamette Valley Chardonnays I have enjoyed rather than many of the over-done Napa Valley Chardonnays. I recommend this wine to all of you who, like me, prefer a well-crafted, less fruity, not buttery, Chardonnay.
Bacchus and Beery blog, February 5, 2015
92 points: plush mouth-feel paired with juicy acidity
2012 Chardonnay
http://wine-blog.bacchusandbeery.com/wine-blog/winereview/chardonnay-wine-reviews/smith-madrone-chardonnay-2012/92 points: A very balanced Chardonnay offering a plush mouth-feel paired with juicy acidity. Fermented and aged in French oak from dry-farmed estate fruit. Pleasing aromas of red apple, pear and a touch of baking spice. Creamy on the palate with flavors of red apple, pear and tropicals with hints of spice. Vanilla creme in the long finish.
Chris Kassel, Intox Report, January 2, 2014
An exquisite Napa Chardonnay with a textbook California unctuousness balanced by cool-climate crispness
2012 Chardonnay
http://intoxreport.com/2015/01/02/droning-on-about-smith-madrone/The wine opens with a blast of lemon custard, vanilla and honey, leading to concentrated blend of peach and and citrus acid framed by malo cream. This is an exquisite Napa chardonnay with a textbook California unctuousness balanced by cool-climate crispness—a wine that take cues from Burgundy, but signs it with an expression of pure, New World clarity….. Try the following as an introduction to the nuances of vintage and the alpine amplitude of Smith-Madrone’s wines. They are wines that define the region, from a winery that is not only on top of Spring Mountain, but also, on top of their game.
Mary Ewing-Mulligan, WineReviewOnline, December 30, 2014
90 points
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfmI love the wines from this wine estate perched high in the western mountains of Napa Valley, where old vines grow in volcanic and rocky soils mainly without irrigation. This 2012 Chardonnay is my favorite style from that grape: a dry wine with a strong backbone of acidity and yet rich, creamy texture and vivid fruit flavors. It was barrel-fermented in all-new French oak, but the toasty character of oak does not silence the flavors of the grapes -- ripe lemon, tropical fruits, ripe apple and a floral character. I also notice a savory stoniness in the wine’s flavor, and notes of white pepper spice. Despite its reasonable price, this is not a Chardonnay to be taken lightly.
Robert Whitley, WineReviewOnLine, December 30, 2014
95 points
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfmSmith-Madrone may be more renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, but its Chardonnay takes a back seat to no one. Spring Mountain is no stranger to world class Chardonnay, either, with Stony Hill, the neighboring vineyard, long holding sway among California Chardonnay producers. This vintage of Smith-Madrone shows a toasty note on the nose, with a lemon oil nuance that is present in most great California Chardonnays. With a stony mineral quality as well, this is one of the finest Chardonnays I've yet tasted from this top-notch Napa Valley winery.
Jameson Fink, blog, December 14, 2014
Oak is Chardonnay's friend
2012 Chardonnay
http://jamesonfink.com/spring-mountain-cabernet-from-smith-madrone-the-perfect-gift/Pretty dang toasty, but with a very lime-y liveliness in both smell and finish that really balanced it out. A fascinating example of Napa Chardonnay that kept me guessing (in a good way) with each sip. I imagine this being a nice wine to revisit in a year or two. OAK IS CHARDONNAY’S FRIEND.
Vinography, Alder Yarrow, December 7, 2014
An exceptional wine in the 2012 vintage
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2014/12/vinography_unboxed_week_of_dec_3.htmlIn particular the Smith Madrone Chardonnay stood out as an exceptional wine in the 2012 vintage….Pale gold in color, this wine smells of wet chalkboard, oatmeal, and lemon curd. In the mouth, electrically bright flavors of lemon juice and pink grapefruit have a faint herbal quality to them as if strained through chamomile. Very pretty with excellent acidity. Will likely age beautifully.
Le Sommelier Fou blog, David Pelletier, November 2014
Good acidity with a creamy mouthfeel
2011 Chardonnay
http://lesommelierfou.com/degustationstastings/etats-unis/californie/smith-madrone-chardonnay-spring-mountain-district-2011/Pale yellow color with green highlights, beautiful tears on the glass. Aromas of oak, lanolin, tarragon, fresh pineapple, lemon and green apple. Good acidity, with a creamy mouthfeel. Light oak, with flavors of lemon, green apple and wool. Long. Drink now or within eight to nine years.
Wine & Spirits Magazine, October 2014
93 points, Best Buy, Year's Best Chardonnay
2011 Chardonnay
A big Napa Valley chardonnay, this has enough power in its fruit to hold the toasty, leesy oak influence in check. There’s a broad feel of alcohol, with mineral freshness to keep it clean, focused on a range of fruit flavors, from yellow apple and nectarine to chamomile, marzipan and orange marmalade. Air brings out a refreshing character in the wine, as juicy as a Bartlett pear or a white peach. Decant this for meaty fish, like a seared albacore steak.
RedefinedWine, October 17, 2014
Great representation of what a Cali chard can be
2011 Chardonnay
https://twitter.com/redefinedwine/status/523288445419274240/photo/1Great representation of what a Cali chard can be...Charlie and Stu know how to do it.
Vivino, October 2014
A winner...This wine will educate your palate about what California Chardonnay can be.
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.vivino.com/wineries/smith-madrone-vineyards/wines/chardonnay-2012?share_id=54304b3f64606This one is a winner. So much Chardonnay from California can boast only the simple oak-n-butter profile, but this little beauty has considerably more to say. The traditional flavors were certainly present, but they were in harmony with a floral nose and diverse combination of fruit flavors such as honeydew, mild peach, and more. In my opinion, this wine will educate your palate about what California Chardonnay can be.
The Prince of Pinot, Rusty Gaffney, February 2014
93 points, beautifully balanced
2011 Chardonnay
http://www.princeofpinot.com/article/1490/93 points: 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.
American Winery Guide by Martin Redmond, August 2014
Harmonious and zesty
2011 Chardonnay
http://www.americanwineryguide.com/winery_reviews/smith-madrone-vineyards-and-winery/739/Pale yellow color with enticing apple, stone fruit, lemon, chalk and a hint of spice aromas. The wine shows an enticing viscosity in the glass that portends the ample mouth-feel of the wine. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, harmonious, and zesty with peach, apricot, honey, brown spice and mineral flavors. Long mouth-watering finish. Barrel-fermented and aged 8 months in 100% new French oak.
James Melendez, The Wine Guy, August 11, 2014
9.3 out of 10
2011 Chardonnay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZt6dkRY4J4&feature=youtu.beBeautiful flavor characteristics...a testament to smaller producers....
Enofylz blog, Martin Redmond, March 26, 2014
92 points
2011 Chardonnay
http://enofylzwineblog.com/2014/03/26/smith-madrone/
- 92 points: Pale yellow color with enticing apple, stone fruit, lemon, chalk and a hint of spice aromas. The wine shows an enticing viscosity in the glass that portends the ample mouth-feel of the wine. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, harmonious, and zesty with peach, apricot, honey, brown spice and mineral flavors. Long mouth-watering finish. Barrel-fermented and aged 8 months in 100% new French oak.
WineAlign.com, June 2014, by Michael Godel
Yes the toast is high but so is the quality
2011 Chardonnay
http://www.winealign.com/wines/62911-Smith-Madrone-Chardonnay-2011Holy reductive toast Napa man. Aromas of buttered toast, glade, duck fat and pencil graphite, which I must say is one stellar note. Flavours of ripe Mutsu (specifically) apple and a resinous chew of late autumn sweet forest needles. Yes the toast is high but so is the quality. Don’t blame the barrel, he’s just the messenger. A great Chardonnay for shellfish and molluscs of the briny kind. Linger on in your golden yellow eyes.
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
P.O. Box 451/ 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574
Telephone: 707.963.2283
