Smith Madrone, Riesling, Spring Mountain District

Too old

2009 vintage

Definitely worth the wait. Still quite acidic, but it somehow managed to come across as rounder and softer than a few years ago. Nose has developed nicely. It's almost plush on the palate until the acidity kicks in on the finish. Great food wine. Wish I had more, because it has years more to go.

2011 vintage

Oxidized, but this could actually give a good sherry a run for its money!

2011 vintage

Significantly more evolved than the 2011. More color, more honied. Still just light straw gold color. Had some RS, but underlying complexity. Be fun to have this next to that 06 Nikolaihof Smaragd. Day 4 and While I feel it’s on a big slide down automatically, there is still this complexity on the palate, that I can’t get past. Some sandalwood-y notes. Finishes with some nuttiness that’s not too encouraging, but on the fourth day I’m finding some serious enjoyment …

2009 vintage

Very nice right out the gate. Not til weighty, some pithiness to the aromas. Palate shows nice Mineral on medium body. Pale lemon color.

2011 vintage

This is drinking really nicely, but no hurry whatsoever. A gorgeous nose of petrol and citrus. Acidity for days, loads of lime and chalky mineral backbone. If I had any more bottles, I'd hold for 5+ years. A delightful expression of new-world Riesling, one which will surely age very well.

2011 vintage

Tropical fruit, honeysuckle, bright acidity, long finish Touch of sweetness - paired well with chili.

2011 vintage

Decanted for 1h. Golden yellow. Petrol aromas with tart baked apples, herbs, and a hint of honeysuckle. Palate has more tart apples and citrus, followed by herbs, and some minerality. Nice acids, concentrated flavors and depth of flavors. Saved about a glass worth in a 187 ml bottle and opened on day 3. Even better. Richer in a good way with flavors even more concentrated, a pineapple notes comes through and more minerals. Everything is just a bit better. Definitely …

2009 vintage

At pop and pour, developing petrol aromas. The wax on fake fruit. Getting deliciously mushroom to the nose. Palate is sooooo siiky. Acid is quite impressive, ABV shows at pop and pour. 12.9%ABV. Maturing white fruit on the palate. Showing a little dull at the moment. Opens up nicely after a couple hours. Still shows its body more than I’d desire. Lots of grape-iness to the palate. Day 2 and the nose feels much more harmonious. Maturing petrol, grape and …

2009 vintage

Consistent with notes back in July. Very concentrated.

2011 vintage

Consistent with previous notes: tart pears, zesty lime, herbs, wet rocks, tangerines, and loads of tangy lemon drops. Paired very well with mild-medium spicy Thai noodles and curry.

2011 vintage

Hints of green apple and citrus, but no petrol, at least for me. Bone dry and very acidic, it was a lot leaner, with less aroma, than I had expected. Halfway through dinner, I found myself yearning for something more off-dry (and I typically drink dry red wines). Given its structure, I expect it to outlive me.

2011 vintage

Consistent with previous notes back in November.

2011 vintage

I know exactly why I have lots of these bottles. ��

2011 vintage

Served slightly chilled. Seems to be improving as this opened up within a half hour and paired nicely with mild green curry pork and rice. Round, quenching, and nicely balanced. Consistent with previous notes only more white flowers on the nose and more green apples emerging on the palate. The finish lasts for almost a full minute.

2011 vintage

Lovely concentration and minerals throughout, with strong lime, green apple, and subtle petrol notes. Smells floral, feels round, and still in a good window to drink. Paired lovely with spicy Vietnamese pho.

2011 vintage

Maybe a touch of petrol on the nose but mostly apple, apple, and more apple all the way through the finish. Lightly corked?

2009 vintage

These continue to just be wonderful Rieslings. This one was very crisp and clean and had a bit more of a touch of almost sweet than I remember (I think in fact it was the fruit flavors really showing up). A sweeter green apple and honeydew. Went very well with a chicken/rosemary/fig macaroni and cheese. Delicious wine.

2011 vintage

Pop and pour, petrol notes developing in the aromas. Along with red apple fruit. On the palate, this has really gained some weight. Feels more sweet tree fruit driven than very mineral and acid driven. Still has med/+ acid, but balanced out with all that fruit. Palate is showing some maturity with the fruit having more of a baking apple edge to it. Still has an underlying frostiness to the palate though. We'll just have to give this some time …

2009 vintage

Drinking very nicely right now. Opens up much faster than last summer, developing a clear and balanced petrol nose, and then bringing tart pears, zesty lime, herbs, wet rocks, tangerines, and loads of tangy lemon drops through to finish, which is lasting a good 30-seconds. Went well with Indian food but also good on its own as a sipper. Drink now-2026.

2011 vintage

Clear pale-gold in color. Clean, pronounced aromas of slate, orange blossom, lime zest, and just hints of smoky earth. Off dry on the palate with strong acid. Medium bodied with pronounced floral, citrus and mineral notes. Silky texture and plenty of length on the finish. Very good to outstanding, and will gain in stature as it matures and develops more that earthy petrol depth.

2011 vintage

Dry riesling, some floral notes with apple and fruit. Needs some more time in the bottle. Got better as it warmed and opened up.

2011 vintage

Family Winemakes. Finally, someone makes real wine since 1993 in Napa Valley, I urge you to try this wine, mountain fruit, lychee, peach, and minerals on the nose, more of the same on the palate, medium body, refreshing with all the red wine today. A winner.

2011 vintage

Give this at least 30-min to open and warm up. Consider decanting. Tastes entirely different at end of the bottle. Yum.

2011 vintage

Pnp... lots of baking apple aromas, More in the white flower aromas than anything. Lots of mineral aroma, nose doesn't quite have the cut I'm searching for yet. Palate is quite mouth watering with lots of mineral edge to it. Check back in a couple of days. Day 3. White flowers and baby powder. Pithy lime aromas and rather chalky relative to previous experience. On the palate, lots of mineral, or to say, less fruit than mineral.

2011 vintage

Always great.

2011 vintage

Very smooth, slightly crisp start with a progression to more fruit, but not sweet, at the finish. Went very well with the Chinese food we had!

2011 vintage

Taste of Smith Madrone : Pale golden yellow color with peach apricot, mineral and a hint of lychee aromas. On the palate, it's between light and medium-bodied, and dry with fresh peach, mineral, and a hint of citrus rind flavors. Medium-long finish; 12.6% alcohol. Retail - $27; 521 cases produced

2011 vintage

Tasting notes same as previous bottles , one of if not the best domestic Riesling.

2011 vintage

Elegant and refined, with a lovely crisp acidity. This is not a fruit-forward wine and the aromas are subtle, but if you take the time to appreciate this wine it grows on you. The finish is very long.

2011 vintage

Just as good as the last half dozen bottles we've drank of this. By far my favorite Riesling

2011 vintage

Loads of fruit at pop and pour. Pear and red apple intensity. Ripeness in the nose, with a floral under current. Lots of extract felt on the palate. Candied orange rind. Tonight this wine feels crammed full of complexity. Anise, chalk, cocoa, lemon lime. Really out of sight tonight. Not the impression, I had of this wine 4 months back.

2009 vintage

Apple and pear aromas with sweet lime fruits. Palate show really pretty glassy texture. Med+ acid. Ripeness of fruit on the palate. This is day2. Not quite the complexity of 08 or 07 right now,a but a very pretty wine with lots of fruit.

2009 vintage

Nice light, dry and crisp. Exactly what I'd want out of a riesling. Pears and apples on the palatte. Strong acid to complement food nicely.

2009 vintage

Light straw-green in color with aromas of green apple, citrus, honeydew and a hint of petrol. Tart green apple fruit with citrus finishing dry with refreshing acidity and a nice mineral note. A benchmark California Riesling that could take on the best of Alsace and give them a run for their money. Will continue to improve in the cellar for at least the next 25 years. Just over 300 cases produced so pick up some soon.

2009 vintage

Instense mineral, citrus, granny smith apple. Laser precision tears through the tongue. With time, riper, more forgiving fruit emerges: peach and melon. Nice crisp finish. Lay this one down for a while.

2009 vintage

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Smith Madrone, Riesling, Spring Mountain District

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