Chardonnay Reviews
PullThatCork, Nancy Brazil, June 26, 2020
A very long finish
2016 Chardonnay
https://pullthatcork.com/2020/smith-madrone-2/Golden yellow in the glass with aromas of citrus, cedar and toast. Generous flavors of pear, crisp apple, and citrus blend with notes of cedar and are supported by bright, juicy acidity. The wine is a bit round with a very long finish.
Gabe's View, Gabe Sasso, June 16, 2020
If you think you don't like Chardonnay, try this one, you may experience a revelation
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.gabesview.com/blogposts/2020/6/16/smith-madrone-simply-napas-best-wineryThis isn’t a shy Chardonnay, neither is it an ostentatious and over the top Chardonnay. This is though a big mouthful of delicious Chardonnay. Over the years they learned which barrels work for their vineyard, and while it has 80% new French oak on it, it’s never obtrusive in the least. Vibrant orchard fruit is buttressed by oodles of rich Meyer lemon. Those flavors fill your mouth and make it happy. If you think you don’t like Chardonnay, try this one, you may experience a revelation.
Kirsten Georgi, ArmchairSommelier, May 15, 2020
Freaking outstanding
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAP_rLVn_b-/Damn. This Chardonnay is freaking outstanding. Sunshine on a cloudy day outstanding. I haven’t bought a bottle of California Chardonnay in I don’t even know how long. Thanks for bringing me back into the fold, Smith Madrone. Tense and exciting, with layers of yellow apple and pear flavors, hazelnut and butterscotch follow shortly behind. A structural symphony, perfectly balanced between acidity and fruit/oak flavors. Forget toilet paper, I’m hoarding this wine. 95 glorious points. Bravo, Stu and Charles!
Joe Roberts, 1winedude, May 11, 2020
Dressed head-to-toe in gorgeousness
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-may-11-2020/Lithe, lemony, lingering… dressed head-to-toe in gorgeousness.
Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, April 30, 2020
A great example of a bold, juicy, full-bodied wine that achieves balance
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/In-defense-of-buttery-Chardonnay-15234808.phpA great example of a bold, juicy, full-bodied wine that achieves balance. The nose gives the impression of salted clarified butter and peaches, leading into a palate of lemon curd, mango and toasted nuts. Gratifying, but refreshing enough that you can’t help but take another sip.
RedWinePlease, Neil & Cheri Dubois April 25, 2020
Very complex, very smooth
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.redwineplease.com/smith-madrone-wines-to-thine-own-self-be-true/A wine of light, golden yellow color, and quite brilliant. This has medium oak on the nose, along with ripe apple, peach syrup and lemon. Throw in some wet stones. The palate has white peaches, and lemon again at the end. This is very complex, very smooth, has a rich and creamy palate and still remains fresh. It also is very long.
Decanter Magazine, Elin McCoy, February 2020
Spicy and succulent
2016 Chardonnay
https://smithmadrone.com/news/download-decanter2020.html91 points: The vintage had a near perfect growing season, ideal for Smith-Madrone’s Chardonnay style, a mid-point between California’s opulent stereotype and a new, fresher, more vibrant one. Barrel-fermented, and aged in 80% new French oak, it’s spicy and succulent, with aromas of hazelnut and lemon curd and a creamy texture that doesn’t weigh it down. Drinking Window 2019 - 2025.
Isante. Catherine Fallis, February 21, 2020
Mouthwatering
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.isantemagazine.com/blog/fred-swans-top-ten-new-world-chardonnaysThe nose is complex and beautiful. Bold out of the bottle, it mellows nicely in the glass. Aromas include just-ripe yellow apple and pear, baking spice, a chiffonade of mint, lightly toasted almond, and sweet cream. The palate is mouthwatering with tangier fruit and fine, silky texture.
Winethropology, Steve McIntosh, February 1, 2020
Massive rich ripe fruit
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.winethropology.com/2020/02/recycle-bin-week-of-january-27.htmlMassive, rich, ripe fruit offering extracted voluptuousness and a powerful punch.
I-WineReview, Don Winkler, January 22, 2020
Classic California Chardonnay at its best
2016 Chardonnay
https://i-winereview.com/blog/index.php/2020/01/22/smith-madrones-authentic-mountain-wines-from-napas-spring-mountain/Medium yellow gold. Sourced from dry farmed estate vines on Spring Mountain, this is classic California Chardonnay at its best. Richly fragrant of honeysuckle, smoky oak and ripe stone fruit and incredibly smooth and balanced on the palate with uplifting bright lemony acidity, beautifully integrated flavors, and a tangy, long lasting finish. Barrel fermented and then matured another 9 months in 80% new French oak. Very reasonably priced given the quality!
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Peg Melnik, January 15, 2020
Pitch-perfect balance.
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/10560032-181/wine-of-the-week-ramey★★★★★: This is a tasty chardonnay with green apple and stone fruit upfront. Notes of grapefruit and spices play back up. Pitch-perfect balance. Lovely.
Advinetures, Alison and Chris Wallace, May 22, 2019
Texture is simply spectacular
2016 Chardonnay
https://advinetures.ca/blog/authentic-wines-personalities-smith-madrone/Extraordinary: Wow! This is why California Chardonnay, in the hands of the top growers, can compete on the world stage with the very best. Gold in colour, we pick up bruised apple, stone fruit, melon and hints of tropical fruit. The texture of this wine is simply spectacular. The gorgeous mouth-feel is full and round and the back-end acidity maintains precise definition and gives this wine perfect balance. The Smiths found the fulcrum with this wine! The finish goes on and on and is infused with hints of mineral and lemon zest. At the winery when we tasted it we rated it Excellent/Extraordinary. We took a bottle to dinner that night. With food, this wine really shone and pushed up our rating.
Washington Wine Blog, Owen Bargreen, January 8, 2020
Texture really impresses
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2020/1/8/smith-madrone-192 points: Aromas of buttered popcorn and roasted hazelnuts offer intrigue on the nose. The freshness and power of the wine is fantastic as ripe vanilla cream and butterscotch flavors mingle with nutty and earthy undertones. The texture really impresses here as this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade, picking up tertiary characters as it ages. Drink 2019-2029.
Fred Swan, January 7, 2020
Complex and beautiful
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.fredswan.wine/2020/01/07/chardonnay-round-up-10-reviews/Smith-Madrone is an extremely reliable producer of excellent Chardonnay that is generous, but well-balanced. The wines have plenty of acidity, but are intended for relatively near-term enjoyment, rather than long aging. The 2016 is a great example of their style. The nose is complex and beautiful. It’s bold out of the bottle, then mellows nicely in the glass. Aromas include just-ripe yellow apple and pear, baking spice, a chiffonade of mint, lightly toasted almond, and sweet cream. The palate is mouthwatering and features tangier fruit—lemon and green apple—along with the baking spice and sweet cream. Body is medium-plus and there’s the texture of fine, grippy silk holding everything together harmoniously. Drink now through 2022.
Terroirist, Isaac Baker, December 14, 2019
Racy acidity that keeps it bright and lofty
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.terroirist.com/2019/12/wine-reviews-california-chardonnay-8/#more-2874793 points: Nuanced aromas of honey, warm tea, almond, with sea salt, crushed chalk, yellow apples and pears. Full but integrated so well, with deep texture, but this racy acidity that keeps it bright and lofty. Glazed apples, candied orange peel, lemon, the fruit mixes well with these salty, chalky, rocky, mineral elements. Lovely stuff that should age wonderfully. From their dry-farmed vineyard, barrel-fermented, aged nine months in 80% new French oak.
JamesSuckling.com, February 6, 2019
Delicious
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.jamessuckling.com/tasting-notes/108559/smith-madrone-chardonnay-napa-valley-spring-mountain-district-2016/91 points: Grapefruit, kiwi fruit, fresh cloves, spices and smoke are the main attraction on the nose. A tangy core of stone and green fruit is supported by crunchy acidity on the palate, which is medium-to full-bodied and delicious. Drink now.
WrittenPalate.com, Cori Solomon, November 26, 2019
Subtle in its style, well-integrated acidity
2016 Chardonnay
https://writtenpalette.com/thanksgiving-wine/I consider this Chardonnay from the Spring Mountain District very subtle in its style and not overwhelming. Although the wine ferments in 80% new French oak and then is aged for nine months, you cannot tell because the wine is not oaky at all. With a nice well-integrated acidity the wine exhibits aromas of pear and flavors of pear and lemon.
WineReviewOnline.com, Rich Cook, November 26, 2019
95 points and a command performance that's destined to resonate for years
2016 Chardonnay
http://winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfm95 points
I’ve been raving about Smith-Madrone for some years now, and I won’t be slowing down any time soon. I got a sneak preview of this wine last fall, and it has certainly lived up to its initial flash. Dry farmed and barrel fermented, it’s then aged in mostly new French oak, which might lead you to expect overt wood influence. That’s not at all the case here, with singing lemon forward fruit soloing above supportive yet nuanced oak spice and a trumpet section of acidity that gives the wine a great finish and push through to the bold finale. Bravo once again to the Smith clan for a command performance that’s destined to resonate for years.
Grape-Experiences. November 21, 2019, Cindy Rynning
Balanced and structured, distinctive terroir
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.grape-experiences.com/2019/11/give-thanks-family-friends-wines-napa-valley/This is a wine you’ll swirl and sip on a regular basis. Of 100% Chardonnay that was barrel fermented for 9 months in French oak, intense aromas of butter, toast, golden apple, lemon, white peaches, yellow flowers and herbs were clearly present. Balanced and structured with a creamy, round mouthfeel, its moderate acidity was on point and flavors of overripe, juicy peaches, peach flesh, and herbs reflected the distinctive terroir of well-drained, volcanic based soils.
Wine Enthusiast, Virginie Boone, December 2019
94 points, Cellar Selection, gorgeous, acid-driven
2016 Chardonnay
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/smith-madrone-2016-estate-bottled-chardonnay-spring-mountain-district/94 points, Cellar Selection: This gorgeous, acid-driven Chardonnay is made from the producer's dry-farmed estate. Stone, apricot, apple, pear and fig ride along a focused, linear palate. Barrel fermentation has lent texture and nuance without distraction. It finishes succulent, soft and inviting.
NittanyEpicurean, Michael Chelus, October 14
Good acidity and balance
2016 Chardonnay
http://nittanyepicurean.blogspot.com/2019/10/2016-smith-madrone-vineyards-and-winery.htmlThis wine is 100% estate grown chardonnay. The wine showed a golden color. Apple, like zest, lemon and oak all arrived on the nose. Apple, blood orange, pithy lemon, limestone and oak followed on a palate where citrus stole the show. The wine exhibited good acidity and balance, along with good length and light-bodied. This wine would do well as an aperitif and would pair nicely with a stuffed turkey breast.
Vinography, Alder Yarrow, September 21, 2019
Classically influenced California Chardonnay
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2019/09/vinography_unboxed_week_of_915.html....the latest vintage from Smith Madrone, who make a classically influenced California Chardonnay that will satisfy those who are looking for slightly less oak influence but still hope to have the richness that has come to characterize the form....
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and a touch of caramelized oak. In the mouth, bright lemon curd flavors mix with a hint of butterscotch and toasted oak. As usual, this wine walks the line between the fresher, brighter style of Napa Chardonnay and old school richness.
Purely Domestic Wine Report, p. 42, Issue 7.4, September 2019
94 points, exceptional mouthfeel and texture
2016 Chardonnay
94 points: The nose is a deep, oily lemon and hazelnut with notes of dry chalk, buttercream, licorice, sap and whiffs of toffee. The palate entry is a lean, pure white pear and citrus with a core of mouth-coating peach and lemon cream. Exceptional mouthfeel and texture. Drink 2019 – 2027.
Terroirist, Isaac Baker, August 24, 2019
Gorgeous deep yet vibrant
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.terroirist.com/2019/08/wine-reviews-international-grab-bag-16/#more-28411Light yellow color. Aromas of juicy yellow apples topped in complex notes of honey, almond, cinnamon, sea salt, hay and chalk dust. Deep texture on the palate with pretty acidity and lovely balance. Yellow apples, candied lemons, orange peel and apricot, juicy and fruity but also airy and elegant. Salty, minerals, chalky, with notes of honey, nougat and hay. Gorgeous, deep, yet vibrant. Another beautiful Chardonnay from Smith-Madrone. I’d love to age this for five years.
Anyway… Smith-Madrone’s Spring Mountain wines are consistently some of my favorite from Napa, and I love their Chardonnay and Riesling in particular. So, since I tasted these wines sighted, I tried to approach them with as much skepticism as possible. That said, the 2016s showed wonderfully. Crystal clear, pristine wines, and both are worthy for serious cellar time. Especially considering the price, I’m still amazed these wines exist.
EllenOnWine, Ellen Landis, July 30, 2019
Rich and mouth-filling with perfect acidity
2016 Chardonnay
http://www.ellenonwine.com/1944A brilliant hue captures the eye, and scents of lemon-splashed stone fruit awaken the nose as this sophisticated Chardonnay is poured from the bottle. Peach flavors are mirrored on the palate, melding with Honeycrisp apple, citrus, herbal accents, and beautiful oak spice nuances. Rich and mouth-filling, with perfect acidity offsetting the juicy fruit through the long memorable finish
<< PREVIOUS - Page 5 of 10 - NEXT >>
Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
P.O. Box 451/ 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574
Telephone: 707.963.2283
