Chardonnay Reviews
Winethropology, Steve McIntosh, March 30, 2017
Well-made without being overblown
2014 Chardonnay
http://www.winethropology.com/2017/03/smith-madrone-current-releases.htmlHigh above the valley floor west of St Helena sits the Spring Mountain District, one of Napa Valley's sixteen AVAs. With steep hillside vineyards reaching altitudes upwards of 1500 feet, this is prime cab country. And at the very end of Spring Mountain Road is Smith-Madrone. Founded in 1971, Smith-Madrone winery was a pioneer in the practice of dry farming, still a very rare pursuit in California. That they are able to crank out quality wines - not just cabernet, either - from this location and in this manner is impressive indeed. Having been up there a couple of times before, a jaunt off the well-trodden route 29 is highly recommended. Quiet and serene, Spring Mountain feels like the rest of Napa probably did in the seventies. The wines are all made with precision and clarity. Honesty of place shines through in them all. Lovely wines.
The few examples I've tasted of Napa Valley Chardonnay grown outside of Carneros have just substantiated why growers like Carneros for chard. Smith-Madrone's proves the notable exception. Its pale straw color and clean nose suggest a lean fleet-footedness. But one sip disabuses the idea that this is anything less than full tilt archetypal California Chardonnay. Big and full of mouth-filling texture, this flavor monster manages to walk a fine line. Well-made without being overblown, it is awfully hard to put down despite its heft.
GrapeCollective, Chris Barnes, March 23, 2017
A hedonist's delight
2013 Chardonnay
https://grapecollective.com/articles/smith-madrone-a-napa-cabernet-thats-classy-and-ageable-in-english-or-latinThe aroma is pure Chardonnay with subtle undertones of French oak and hints of ripe pear. Tasting confirms that this is a hedonist's delight - big, round, smooth and viscous and with tasty acidity. The palate is very resolved and has a classical Chardonnay aroma that is coupled to big California sunshine flavors.
FermentedFruit, Ryan O'Hara, March 22, 2017
93 points
2014 Chardonnay
http://thefermentedfruit.com/spring-fever-6-california-chardonnays-you-can-count-on-under-40/From one of my favorite family-owned and operated boutique producers perched high atop Spring Mountain, the wines of Smith-Madrone always have soul and sense of place, at refreshingly accessible price points. Produced from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay from hillside vineyards ranging in elevation from 1,400 to 1,900 feet, it is barrel-fermented for nine months in new French oak. It pours a light straw yellow in the glass. Fragrant aromas of green pear and wet stone mingle alongside white flowers, buttercream and tangerine oil. In the mouth, the juicy core of crisp, bright fruit flavors are carried alongside an undercurrent of stony minerality. Medium-bodied, it benefits from lively acidity and finishes long and clean, with lingering hints of buttercream, tangerine oil and spices. A gorgeous, impeccably-balanced example of Spring Mountain Chardonnay that effortlessly punches above its weight.
Terroirist, Isaac Baker, March 18, 2017
92 points
2014 Chardonnay
http://www.terroirist.com/2017/03/wine-reviews-smith-madrone/#more-24617Light gold color. Bursts with aromas of lime, orange, peach, dusted with chalk, and there’s definitely a good amount of wood in here, some nougat and honeycomb. Medium/light-bodied (12.8% alcohol) with lovely creaminess and precise acidity. Tart lime and nectarine mixes with yellow apples and rich peaches, and the fruit blends wonderfully with notes of chalk dust, mineral, white tea, and the toasted wood and almond cake notes are woven in very nicely. Long, lingering, delicious finish. This is always a very good Chardonnay, ditto for the 2014 vintage. Fermented and aged 9 months in all new French oak. (92 points IJB)
International Wine Report, June 2016
92 points
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.internationalwinereport.com/latest-reports/reports-usa/217-california/spring-mountain-district/6070-2013-smith-madrone-chardonnay-spring-mountain92 points: The 2013 Spring Mountain Chardonnay from Smith-Madrone offers pretty aromas of ripe pear, citrus zest, mineral and hints of vanilla blossom all coming through as this unwinds in the glass. On the palate this is absolutely gorgeous, as it demonstrates remarkable overall balance, focus and clarity through the lively finish. This Chardonnay is absolutely delightful and showing beautifully right now.
BiggerThanYourHead, Fred Koeppel, January 9, 2017
Exceptional
2013 Chardonnay
http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2017/01/09/50-great-wines-of-2016/A selection of 50 products that struck me as embodying everything we want in a wine: freshness, balance, appeal; depth, personality and character; an adherence to the nature of the grapes and, where possible, the virtues of the vineyard and climate. These are wines that leave aside the ego of the winemaker and producer for an expression of — not to sound too idealistic — an ideal of what a wine should be. I won't belabor the process by which I arrived at this list of 50 wines, except to say that every wine I rated "Exceptional" during 2016 is automatically included. Did I leave out wines that I truly admired? Indeed, I did, because this list focuses on wines that I truly loved. Enjoy!
The Somm Journal, Fred Swan, December 2016-January 2017
Authentic, charming and full of character
2014 Chardonnay
http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/759645-dec-2016-jan-2017/26Medium-bodied and veryfresh but soft, owing to 100% ML and frequent lees stirring. Look for aromas and flavors of green and yellow apples, lemon blossom, mineral and baking spice.
WineForNormalPeople, Elizabeth Schneider, September 26, 2016
Smith-Madrone makes outstanding wine
2013 Chardonnay
http://winefornormalpeople.com/the-spring-mountain-district-in-napa-and-its-shining-star-smith-madrone/Smith-Madrone makes outstanding wine. Obviously I love it for the quality but I also love that it’s not what you’d expect from a Napa Valley wine...
Pale with thick legs and butterscotch, oak, tropical fruit, lemon, and guava aromas. The fruit and oak (butterscotch) came through on the palate but not in an over-the-top way. With excellent acidity, this wine is a food wine – restrained, bright, medium-bodied and best with something creamy (fancy mac-n-cheese comes to mind).
Drink or sink? Drink. Fabulous and the way oak should be used with the Chardonnay grape.
Food & Spirits Magazine, Mark Gudgel, summer 2016
Some of the best wines I've had in recent memory
2014 Chardonnay
http://fsmomaha.com/wp-content/uploads/FSM24_LR.pdfFar more reminiscent stylistically of Chablis than of the Napa Valley from whence it hails, this is what subtlety tastes like. Lovers of cougar juice need not inquire.
NapaFoodandVine, August 16, 2016
Fantastic
2014 Chardonnay
http://napafoodandvine.com/2016/08/16/smith-madrone-winery-and-vineyards-tasting-notes-post-100/This wine had my taste buds singing. The flavor was amazing! Creamy rich notes of vanilla, full of fruits, wonderful in the mouth with medium acidity. I absolutely loved this wine. Fantastic.
Susan Spinello, LiveLeft, July 12, 2016
So refined and delicious as if some magic occurred
2014 Chardonnay
http://www.liveleft.com/napa-and-sonoma/100% barrel fermented and aged in 100% new French oak for 9 months and yet it is so refined and delicious that it’s as if some magic has occurred, but don’t tell Stu about pixie dust…this is all raw talent. Spice and apples with tropical papaya, lush mango, pear and almonds with a big mouthfeel and long lingering finish. It’s big and buttery with just the right amount of oak.
Cindy Rynning, Grape-Experiences, April 13, 2016
Gorgeous, absolutely lovely
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.grape-experiences.com/2016/04/7-captivating-wines-ramp-pizza-night/From Smith-Madrone Winery in St. Helena is this gorgeous estate grown Chardonnay, the entirety of which was barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 8 months. Aromas of tangerine, pink grapefruit, lemon peel, and almonds were absolutely lovely. Bursting with just-right acidity, notes of butter, oak, and citrus led to a lip-smacking finish that lingered.
The Wine Enthusiast, May 2016
92 points, Editor's Choice
2013 Chardonnay
This wine hails from a dry-farmed estate vineyard planted with 40-year-old-plus vines. An iconic place owned by the Smith brothers, this adds to their well-earned fame and reputation for elegant, interesting wines with a sense of place. Lemon and lime provide crisp, clean freshness, buoyed by apple, almond and pear, a light acidity always nearby.
Richard Jennings, RJOnWine, March 3, 2016
90 points
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.rjonwine.com/california-wine/grocery-store-chardonnay-project/90 points: Light lemon yellow color; lemon gelee, vanilla, ripe pineapple, lemon cream, lemon honey nose; rich, creamy textured, lemon gelee, lemon honey, chamomile palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish.
The Armchair Sommelier, Kirsten Georgyi, February 15, 2016
92 points: Smith-Madrone makes precise wines with a keen integrity of place.
2013 Chardonnay
http://armchairsommelier.com/2016/02/15/napa-valley-spring-mountain-district-day-with-smith-madrone/Pale lemon-green color with a just a hint of legs. The nose is wickedly clean — like a walk in the mountains after a rain. Medium body, with flavors of green apple, pear and melon. An impressive finish, with vanilla and hazelnut notes as the finale. Strong, yet graceful . . . think Olympic gymnast.
Vinography, Alder Yarrow, February 1, 2016
Breaks the stereotypical mold
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2016/02/vinography_unboxed_week_of_jan_7.htmlThe Smith-Madrone Chardonnay breaks the stereotypical mold, and offers juicy bright citrus fruit without overt oak…Pale, bright greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd, and a hint of melted butter. In the mouth, lemon zest, lemon curd, and pink grapefruit flavors mix with a hint of cold cream and fennel. There's a fennel seed note in the finish. Excellent acidity and length.
Rockin Red blog, Michelle Williams, February 3, 2016
Beautifully balanced, a must have Chardonnay
2013 Chardonnay
http://rockinredblog.com/2016/02/03/smith-madrone-bottling-that-peaceful-easy-feeling/This Chardonnay was barrel fermented in 100% new French oak from trees in the in central France where the trees grow slowly with tight grain specially selected by Smith-Madrone to match up with their mountain fruit, aged for nine months in those barrels before bottling; hearing that is enough for me to think I am diving into an over-oaked butter Chardonnay. This is not at all the case! This wine poured a glistening golden yellow into the glass; racy aromas of citrus, orchard fruit, melon, baking spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a touch of baked pie crust dazzle the nose; the palate is lively with a backbone of minerality, rich acidity leaves a long, zesty finish; beautifully balanced, well-structured and absolutely perfect paired with spinach quiche; 807 cases produced, SRP $32 A Must Have Chardonnay!
Sentinel, Florida, Fred Tasker, January 21, 2016
Recommended
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.sentinelsource.com/mcclatchy/wines-to-warm-up-with/article_ccc596e7-ea8c-586f-8783-4aef4cb4c6e9.htmlToasty oak, crisp acids, full body, concentrated flavors of ripe apples, long finish.
Fred Koeppel, BiggerThanYourHead, January 16, 2016
A beauty...exceptional
2013 Chardonnay
http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2016/01/16/wine-of-the-day-no-99/How do the Smith brothers do it? Normally, I would find a chardonnay that was 100 percent barrel-fermented and aged in 100 percent new French oak barrels (for eight months) undrinkable because of the influence of wood, but Charles and Stuart Smith, who produce only limited bottlings of chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and riesling, manage, once again, to deliver a chardonnay notable for its bright, clean brilliance; its chiseled restraint that still allows for the grape’s natural richness; its lithe, supple juiciness. Perhaps this result has to do with the age of the mountain-side vineyard, where the vines were 41 years old for this vintage, or with the fact that the vineyard is dry-farmed, seeing no irrigation during periods of little rain, so the roots have to struggle to find nutrients and moisture, a sort of vinous variation on the “no pain-no gain” principle. In any case, the Smith-Madrone Chardonnay 2013, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, is a beauty. The color is pale straw-gold with a faint green tinge; classic aromas of ripe pineapple and grapefruit carry a thread of mango and cloves, with high notes of jasmine, talc and limestone. The intimation of limestone, and its aide-de-camp, flint, in the nose expands righteously on the palate, and combined with chiming acidity produces a chardonnay of crystalline clarity that feels lit from within. Despite the oak regimen, any wood activity lies in subtly shaping and sculpting the wine, a significance as gentle but urgent as a xummer zephyr. Flavors are more stone-fruit — peach, yellow plum — than citrus, and all elements devolve to a long, limpid and luminous finish. 14.1 percent alcohol. An essential chardonnay, exquisite in its parts, elegant in balance, dynamic in total. Production was 806 cases. Drink now through 2018 to 2020. Exceptional.
WineReviewOnLine, Linda Murphy, January 4, 2016
91 points
2013 Chardonnay
http://www.winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfmIt leads with a vanillin, Meyer lemon and tropical fruit nose, and the flavors are similar, with additional pear and apple notes on the palate. A crème brulee note carries through from start to finish, and there is a mouthwatering, sweet-tart character on the finish. Forty-year-old vines -- a long life for Chardonnay -- produced this bracing wine.
Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews, January 3, 2016
One of the treasures of Napa Valley
2013 Chardonnay
http://wakawakawinereviews.com/2016/01/04/why-i-love-smith-madrone/Simultaneously racy and succulent, friendly and focused, the Smith-Madrone 2013 Chardonnay offers fresh aromatics with notes of lemon curd and crisp melon set on a toasted oat cracker. Delicious and pretty with a long finish.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, December 9, 2015
4 stars
2013 Chardonnay
A lovely chardonnay with bright fruit and crisp acidity. Notes of apple, melon and mineral. This elegant style makes it a great companion for holiday feasts.
California Grapevine, December 2015
Very highly recommended
2013 Chardonnay
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, lemony, pear and baked apple aroma; medium to medium-full body; crisp, lemony, well balanced, green apple flavors with a slight creaminess in the mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste.
Napa Valley Then & Now by Kelli A. White
Very focused palate
2012 Chardonnay
http://www.napavalleythenandnow.com/An especially oak-driven style of Chardonnay. The palate is very focused, almost tight, with a vibrant acidity and a chalky mineral quality in the finish.
The Drunken Cyclist
Very Good to Outstanding.
2013 Chardonnay
http://thedrunkencyclist.com/2015/10/21/on-my-short-list-smith-madrone/A great nose of pear and lemon meringue pie with a hint of oak. On the palate, great citrus flavors and some mineral notes. The wine is long and flavorful. Those citrus flavors win out in the end, resulting in an impressive wine.
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
P.O. Box 451/ 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574
Telephone: 707.963.2283
