Riesling Reviews

Tobin, Instagram, August 14, 2020

Heavenly pairing 

2016 Riesling

A lovely recommendation from the Napa General Store to go with their famous Chinese chicken salad. Smith-Madrone delivered a beautiful rendition of Napa style Riesling. That diesel smell meets a viscosity of melon and tropical fruit. Heavenly pairing.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpeRMcpdSa/

ArmchairSommelier, Kirsten Georgi, July 22, 2020

The best Riesling California has to offer

2016 Riesling

My favorite California Riesling is from Smith-Madrone Winery. You can’t have a conversation about California Riesling without Smith-Madrone. Stu Smith planted Riesling at Smith-Madrone back in 1972, believing then (and now) that Riesling is not just one of the most important white grapes in the world, but one of the most important grapes in the world (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay). Smith-Madrone is located in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. Vineyards sit at elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 feet, on steep slopes which range up to 34%. Smith’s 6.25 acres of Riesling vines have east-facing exposures. To fit that acreage into the larger picture of Riesling in California, Napa Valley has a total of 79 acres planted to Riesling. Smith is a huge proponent of dry-farming and the idea that grapes that struggle produce better wines. The vines send their roots deep into the soil in their search for water and nutrients, producing smaller berries, with a larger skin-to-juice ratio. Smith-Madrone’s Riesling is a pure expression of the grape — fermented and aged in stainless steel. Smith says, “There’s no French or American oak, no lees, no batonnage, no malolactic, no micro-oxygenation or like type of manipulation. This is the purest expression and form that a grape can give.” Smith-Madrone Riesling is fantastic stuff. IMO, the best Riesling California has to offer. You’d have to go to Mosel to find a Riesling with this kind of purity, elegance, and precision. Waste all the time you want on Riesling, Smith-Madrone.


https://armchairsommelier.com/2020/07/22/california-riesling-the-limitations-of-selling-wine-in-a-grocery-store-part-2/

UncorkWithLisa, Lisa Eppel, July 6

Beautiful structure and balance

2016 Riesling

On the nose, I was immediately greeted with aromas of citrus and petrol followed by a nice touch of honeysuckle. On the palate, stone fruits (apricot) come forth as well as lime and crisp green apple. There’s a touch of creamy honey-like sweetness that is superbly balanced with the juicy tart acidity. This wine has beautiful structure and balance! The finish is long and lingering with wet stone minerality (oh how I love that minerality!)⁣. Dry with 12.8% abv and 0.68% residual sugar. The grapes were grown in the Napa Valley Spring Mountain District appellation, keeping with the international tradition of Riesling which is known to thrive on steep hillsides!⁣ This was my first Napa Valley Riesling ~ I did not expect to experience that Alsatian Riesling sensation that is so longed after. Great Job Smith-Madrone! ⁣
⁣


https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRidP_JmGd/

SwirlingDervish, Lauren Walsh, July 1, 2020

Unapologetically ripe and exuberant, lightly restrained by tart acidity that keeps all that personality in check

2016 Riesling

I have to admit: this was the wine I was most looking forward to tasting. Remember how I described my fellow wine bloggers who went crazy for all the Smith-Madrone wines? The most effusive praise – across the board – was for the Riesling. A bit of an outlier in Napa, Riesling more often calls to mind the steep slopes of the Mosel in Germany or perhaps the sun-warmed slopes of Alsace. Spring Mountain? Not so much. But this wine makes you wish Riesling were more prominent among the plantings; and that it all could be made by Smith-Madrone. Sweet and spicy bahn-mi pizza was a nice match with the Riesling. 100% Riesling, this wine smells like a beautiful fruit salad: apples, pears, passion fruit, and mango spritzed with a few drops of lemon juice and sprinkled with lime zest and ginger. It is unapologetically ripe and exuberant, lightly restrained by tart acidity that keeps all that personality in check. Reminiscent of Alsace but with even more pizzazz. 


https://theswirlingdervish.com/2020/07/01/the-folks-at-smith-madrone-my-kind-of-wine-people/

StrongCoffeetoRedWine, Rick Dean, July 2, 2020

Mouth-wateringly juice finish

2016 Riesling

If you see or hear the word Riesling and you think sweet German wine, then think again. The only thing this has in common with the German wine is the grapes used. This Riesling is Alsatian in style. It sees no oak, only stainless steel. The style is dry and is made to be a pure expression of the grape. Like all Smith-Madrone wines, acidity is key. It starts out bright and lively and ends with a mouth-wateringly juicy finish. The nose is a blend of floral notes, citrus peel, and early peach and stone fruits. It has a creamy center. The palate is consistent with the nose with notes of stone fruits, including peach and apricot, lime citrus, and a tad of minerality and spice. I generally drink Riesling with spicy food, and this wine would be a great pairing with that. But do not limit yourself; spicy and savory of any kind will also make a great pairing. It will even “pair” with itself on a hot summer day as you sit on the porch, watching the sun cross the sky.


https://strongcoffeetoredwine.com/smith-madrone-vineyards-and-winery/

Enofylz, Martin Redmond, July 7, 2020

Dry and very fresh

2016 Riesling

Very pale straw color with green highlights with aromatic white peach, nectarine, lemon, honeysuckle, wet stone and a hint of petrichor. On the palate it’s dry and very fresh with white peach, nectarine, honey, Meyer lemon flavors accented with a wet stone minerality and citrusy long finish. 


http://enofylzwineblog.com/2020/07/07/a-splendid-virtual-tasting-with-smith-madrones-stu-smith/

DallasWineChick, Melanie Ofenloch, July 5, 2020

A standout Riesling

2016 Riesling

A standout Riesling. It was dry and had a great minerality with notes of apricot, citrus, green apple and petrol.


http://www.dallaswinechick.com/smith-madrone-humble-beginnings-unforgettable-wines/

UncorkwithLisa, Lisa Eppel, July 5, 2020

Superbly balanced

2016 Riesling

??? ???? ?? ??! And I have the perfect Riesling for you to try!! This 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling would make a wonderful addition to your summer wines for the hottest of summer days! On the nose, I was immediately greeted with aromas of citrus and petrol followed by a nice touch of honeysuckle. On the palate, stone fruits (apricot) come forth as well as lime and crisp green apple. There’s a touch of creamy honey-like sweetness that is superbly balanced with the juicy tart acidity. This wine has beautiful structure and balance! The finish is long and lingering with wet stone minerality (oh how I love that minerality!). The grapes were grown in the Napa Valley Spring Mountain District appellation, keeping with the international tradition of Riesling which is known to thrive on steep hillsides! This was my first Napa Valley Riesling ~ I did not expect to experience that Alsatian Riesling sensation that is so longed after. Great Job Smith-Madrone!
Oh, I almost forgot, swipe left ⬅️to see what we paired it with!! Spicy tikka masala with cauliflower rice…it was a pairing to die for!


https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRidP_JmGd/

Swirling Dervish, Lauren Walsh, July 1, 2020

Reminiscent of Alsace but with even more pizzazz

2016 Riesling

A bit of an outlier in Napa, Riesling more often calls to mind the steep slopes of the Mosel in Germany or perhaps the sun-warmed slopes of Alsace. Spring Mountain? Not so much. But this wine makes you wish Riesling were more prominent among the plantings; and that it all could be made by Smith-Madrone. 100% Riesling, this wine smells like a beautiful fruit salad: apples, pears, passionfruit, and mango spritzed with a few drops of lemon juice and sprinkled with lime zest and ginger. It is unapologetically ripe and exuberant, lightly restrained by tart acidity that keeps all that personality in check. Reminiscent of Alsace but with even more pizzazz. 


https://theswirlingdervish.com/2020/07/01/the-folks-at-smith-madrone-my-kind-of-wine-people/

Jim Van Bergen, JVB Uncorked, June 27, 2020

Superbly dry

2016 Riesling

It is more Alsatian than German in style: superbly dry; with a honeyed nose but dry palate and body. On the palate are green apple, Bosc pear, and a solid key lime base layer. Capable of pairing with rich and savory food, this is ideal for Thai, Burmese, Sushi and a Spanish gazpacho, but can handle everything from a salad to steak tartare, from carpaccio to mussels, from meringues to chocolate lava cake. If you ask me for the best rieslings from the USA, it is a very short list. I will offer you Dr. Konstantin Frank from Finger Lakes, New York; Teutonic from Willamette Valley, The Columbia Valley collaboration “Eroica” from Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen, and Smith Madrone’s Riesling. That short list is incredibly high praise.


https://jvbuncorked.com/2020/06/27/smith-madrone-blurring-the-lines-between-old-and-new-world-wines/

PullThatCork, Nancy Brazil, June 26, 2020

A pure expression of the variety that will age well for 30 years

2017 Riesling

Medium yellow in the glass with generous aromas of stone fruit, dried pineapple and a hint of petrol. Complex flavors of white peach, pineapple guava, stony minerality and bright acidity. The flavors taste like fruit, but the wine doesn’t taste sweet. The finish is very long. Even over-refrigerated this wine has amazing aromatics. Winemaking takes place in all stainless steel to preserve the gorgeous fruit aromas and flavors of Riesling. It is a pure expression of the variety that will age well for 30 years. In Stu’s view the rewards for aging Smith-Madrone Riesling are worth the wait.


https://pullthatcork.com/2020/smith-madrone-2/

Gabe's View, Gabe Sasso, June 16, 2020

Stupidly delicious

2016 Riesling

The hero in most stories usually has a secret weapon of some sort. In the case of Smith-Madrone, Riesling is their secret weapon. This wine is well made, stupidly delicious and quite possibly the most age-worthy wine in their portfolio most years. Peach and apricot notes are evident from the first whiff to the last sip. Throw in white tea, white peppercorn and a long finish and it’s got everything you need. The tension between the fruit and the acid is simply thrilling. I’ve gotten to travel a good bit of the world tasting wine. One of my fondest memories is a drizzly day a handful of years ago up on Spring Mountain. I had an appointment to see Stu and Charlie around lunch time. We sat around inside the winery, tasted the current releases and ate some sandwiches. After a few minutes with a twinkle in his eye, Charlie told me he thought I might want to try an older Riesling. I don’t recall the vintage off hand, but it was delicious and complemented our food and our boisterous conversation so well. A perfect day.


http://www.gabesview.com/blogposts/2020/6/16/smith-madrone-simply-napas-best-winery

Kirsten Georgi, ArmchairSommelier, June 5, 2020

The best Riesling California has to offer

2016 Riesling

In my book, Smith Madrone is the best Riesling California has to offer. Any conversation about California Riesling should start with Smith Madrone. Layered notes of citrus and stone fruits, wet rocks and petrol, all supported by a fierce spine of acidity. You’d have to go to Mosel to find a Riesling with this kind of purity, elegance, and precision. Absolutely glorious, year in and out. Wish I had the patience to age this stuff. But I don’t.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDdB-AJXJu/

Grape-experiences, Cindy Rynning, May 22, 2020

 I expect only the best from this iconic winery and this dry Riesling delivers just that

2016 Riesling

 I expect only the best from this iconic winery in St. Helena and this dry Riesling delivers just that. Lively aromas of white peach flesh, white flowers, lemon zest, freshly-cut pineapple and lime were clean and sharp. On the palate, dry and creamy with vibrant acidity, flavors of white pepper, juicy kiwi, lime and herbs paved the path to a luscious and lasting finish. And sipped with an assortment of grilled vegetables for a late afternoon delight? Life just gets better and better.

Why did this wine and food pairing work? When grilled, the flavors of vegetables were enhanced and offered smoky characteristics. This bright and lively wine with plenty of acidity was a brilliant counterpoint to those notes.


http://www.grape-experiences.com/2020/05/barbecue-worthy-white-wines/

RedWinePlease, Neil & Cheri Dubois, April 25, 2020

Refreshing acidity

2016 Riesling

A light, golden yellow color and very brilliant. You get stone fruits, the traditional petrol marker and floral on the nose.  Even though it is dry, it almost seems like there is some sweetness at first, then the refreshing acidity takes over.  The palate is about delicate, white fruit, with pear and some honeydew melon.  It finishes with some minerality.  


http://www.redwineplease.com/smith-madrone-wines-to-thine-own-self-be-true/

Decanter Magazine, Elin McCoy, February 2020

Stand-out wet rock minerality, succulent limey, citrusy notes, juicy acidity, and round texture

2016 Riesling

91 points: The dry Riesling has long had a dedicated following, and the winery is one of the few producers of the varietal left in Napa - think Alsace style. This vintage shows a stand-out wet rock minerality, succulent limey, citrusy notes, juicy acidity, and round texture. It’s also the first vintage available in hand-waxed magnums, which makes sense because the wines are surprisingly long lived. Drinking Window 2019-2029.


https://smithmadrone.com/news/download-decanter2020.html

Winethropology, Steve McIntosh, February 1, 2020

This luminescent white exudes versatility and poise

2016 Riesling

Ultra clean and beaming with focus, this luminescent white exudes versatility and poise. Faithful to varietal character, and with enough dryness and easy appeal to win over riesling skeptics.  Very nice.


http://www.winethropology.com/2020/02/recycle-bin-week-of-january-27.html

Terroirist, Isaac Baker, January 25, 2020

Oodles of goodness....crazy value

2016 Riesling

Spring Mountain’s Smith-Madrone has long made incredible, age-worthy, unique wines, and their new Riesling delivers oodles of goodness for not much money.

93 points: Medium yellow color. So fresh on the nose, which pops with peaches, limes, pineapple, mixed with white flowers, hay, honey, crushed shells and sea spray. Brisk and focused on the palate with racy acidity, yet plenty of depth in texture. Tastes near dry, but shows lots of richness. Pure lime and papaya fruit mixed with mountain stream, honey and some crushed shells. This is another excellent Riesling from Smith-Madrone, one that should age beautifully. Crazy value. 


https://www.terroirist.com/2020/01/wine-reviews-california-new-releases-14/#more-28870

I-WineReview, Don Winkler, January 22, 2020

Showing the sun-blessed fruit of California

2016 Riesling

Showing the ripe, sun-blessed fruit of California, this is dry, fruity Riesling showing lively scents of green apple and citrus that give way to a dense, stony palate of Meyer lemon and lemon curd with hints of stone fruit and bright, assertive acidity. Finishes very long with lingering lemon drop notes.


https://i-winereview.com/blog/index.php/2020/01/22/smith-madrones-authentic-mountain-wines-from-napas-spring-mountain/

Washington Wine Blog, Owen Bargreen, January 8, 2020

Truly one of the best from Napa

2016 Riesling

91 points: A whiff of petrol and white flowers immediately takes you to the old world rather than Napa. Beautifully textured and lithe, showing good poise, the wine delivers ripe green apple, wet stone and shades of kumquat zest that mingle together on the palate. This is truly one the best I have had from Napa. Drink 2019-2025.


http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2020/1/8/smith-madrone-1

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 7, 2020, Michele Anna Jordan

Beautiful overlay of fruit which makes this wine a standout

2016 Riesling

There is something quite beguiling about our Wine of the Week, the Smith-Madrone 2016 Napa Valley Spring Mountain District Riesling. You could call it a quirky beauty, with an abundance of midpalate fruit that is never overwhelming and does not create impressions of sweetness. It is this beautiful overlay of fruit that makes the wine a standout. You’ll notice white peach and nectarine, yellow peach and nectarine, baked apple and pear, with hints of tart citrus zest.

There is a beautiful flourish of minerality, too, which you notice best on the finish, especially when you take a deep breath just after swallowing a mouthful. The wine takes its style from Alsace, France, and as you would expect, it is wonderful with some of the region’s foods. A simple fondue or raclette with potatoes and cornichons is a seductive partner.

The wine also provides a refreshing contrast to some of the classic gratins of the region, including a stunningly luscious cabbage gratin. But the wine also crosses geographic borders. It is outstanding with many Indian and Thai curries, provided they don’t have too much heat (the wine can take a little without turning bitter).You may also enjoy it with white, yellow and red lentils as well as young chickpeas, which are the inspiration for today’s pairing.


https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/10554229-181/pairings-why-to-try-riesling?ref=related

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 7, 2020, Peg Melnik

Wine of the Week: Gorgeous

2016 Riesling

Floral, with flavors on the palate of stone fruits, mineral and a quench of lime. This riesling rides on crisp acidity and has perfect balance; everything is in check. This Alsatian-styled riesling is gorgeous.

At Smith-Madrone Vineyards, when it comes to riesling, you’re tasting the naked grape, hailing from vineyards steep in volcanic soils. “You’re tasting the pure essence of the grape in a way that doesn’t occur with other varietals,” said vintner Stu Smith. “There’s no oak aging, no malolactic fermentation, no lees stirring or blending with other grapes.” Smith and the naked grape are behind our wine of the week winner — the Smith-Madrone 2016 Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Riesling at $34. It’s floral, with flavors on the palate of stone fruits, mineral and a quench of lime. This Alsatian-style riesling rides on crisp acidity and has perfect balance; everything’s in check.

The vintner said the St. Helena enterprise is a team effort. He also credits his older brother, Charlie Smith, and his son, Sam Smith, for the caliber of this riesling. “We all decide on the blends, do the harvest together, and none of us gets out of bottling,” Stu Smith said. Stu Smith founded the winery in 1971. Charlie Smith joined in 1973 and Sam Smith, in 2010. “Charlie, Sam and I care,” Stu Smith said. “We’re trying to make the very best wine humanly possible. To do that, you have to have a mindset that wine quality is the singular focus and that all those thousands of decisions that are made unconsciously are uncompromisingly for quality and not quantity or dollars.”

The winery adheres to dry farming as much as possible, Stu Smith said. Dry farming means vineyards are not irrigated and rely solely on water nature provides. “Using as little water as possible is still a laudable goal, and one my industry should be embracing,” Stu Smith said. The heat spell over Labor Day weekend in 2017 forced Stu Smith to rethink his commitment to dry farming. Today, he opts for moderation. Limiting irrigation produces smaller berries with a higher skin-to-juice ratio. Because the skin contains all the flavor, he said, it produces a more intensely flavored grape.

“I see this as not only a way to make better wine, but also something that demonstrates that we are being responsible neighbors by not wasting such a precious resource.” During his college years at Berkeley in the 1960s, Stu Smith enjoyed wine more than beer. “There was a bottle of 1961 Chateau Lafite at the wine store Jackson’s Party Service for sale for $27. Like Dr. Strangelove, I’d reach for that bottle and my other arm would reach out and pull my hand back. A bottle priced at $27 was beyond my reach.” Today, Smith is smitten with riesling. “We give it the respect that it deserves. We believe that riesling is one of the four most important varietals in the world — along with cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and pinot noir. “We don’t believe it’s just one of the most important ‘white’ varietals in the world.”


https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/10532850-181/wine-of-the-week-smith-madrone?sba=AAS

NittanyEpicurean, Michael Chelus, January 2, 2020

Luscious pear stole the show

2016 Riesling

The wine showed a light golden color. Apple, pear, lemon candy and whiffs of petrol could all be found on the nose. Pear, apple, lemon curd, honey and slate followed on the palate where ripe, luscious pear stole the show. The wine exhibited good acidity and balance. It was light-bodied and demonstrated good length. This wine would do well as an aperitif and pair nicely with a classic preparation of Sole Almondine. 


http://nittanyepicurean.blogspot.com/2020/01/2016-smith-madrone-riesling.html

Talk-a-Vino, Anatoly Levine, December 31, 2019

One of the Top Wines of 2019

2016 Riesling

Chosen as one of the Top Wines of 2019:.. if you want to try the best Riesling made in the USA, go get it. Does this sound like a bold claim? Maybe it does, but if your hallmark of Riesling excellence is Grosset Polish Hill Clare Valley in Australia, then you will easily understand me. If you like Riesling, this is the wine you need to ask for by name. Yes, now.


https://talk-a-vino.com/2019/12/28/top-wines-of-2019-second-dozen/

Elin McCoy, San Francisco Chronicle, December 16, 2019

Superb

2016 Riesling

Every year I sample thousands of wines, and I'm always on the hunt for great bargain bottles. Happily, I found more delicious and affordable wines than ever in 2019. Where to look for the best buys?

Bright Whites: 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling. The Smith brothers have been making seriously complex Alsace-style rieslings on Napa's Spring Mountain since 1977. The latest release is superb.


https://www.sfchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/The-best-50-wines-under-50-2019-edition-14910038.php?fbclid=IwAR1gNyORhi0Gqh-00Y74PvWPdBpWHgxbGTG864TMk11S3w0-H2AbwLVMzw8
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