Wine Of The Day: 2014 Smith-Madrone Riesling

This impeccably balanced Riesling is among the best I’ve had!

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This wine is crafted from 100% estate fruit from 42 year-old vines at 1,800 ft elevation. The dry-farmed vines are planted on very steep slopes (up to 35%),  thereby honoring the international tradition of Riesling which thrives on steep hillsides.

My tasting notes follow:

Color – Very pale green with yellow highlights
Aromas – Appealing and aromatic with petrol, orange blossom, pear, lemon and lime zest, and wet stones
Body – Light-bodied, dry, and impeccably balanced with very refreshing acidity and a great mouthfeel
Taste – White peach, pear, lemon-lime, and honey flavors with a hint of apricot gelée and very appealing minerality.
Finish – Long

92pts|12.8% abv|SRP – $30.00| 1,551 cases|Sample

This impeccably balanced Riesling is among the best I’ve had!

Pair with: We paired with take-out Thai, but this is such a food friendly wine consider pairing with fried or baked fish, simple seafood dishes, cream sauces, butter sauces, sauteed mushrooms, roast
chicken, grilled pork chops, or charcuterie.

About Smith Madrone

Smith Madrone Vineyards, a family run, estate-bottled winery located in St. Helena, California was founded in 1971 by brothers Stuart and Charles Smith who are the Managing Partner/Vineyard Manager, and Winemaker respectively.  The name of the winery is a tribute to the Smith brothers and the predominant tree on the ranch. The Madrone is an evergreen with a red-brown trunk and branches.

When the Smith brothers purchased the  200 acre ranch in 1971, it included a vineyard that had been planted over a century before.  But the forest had reclaimed much of the land. The brothers had to call in loggers to clear patches of land that would become vineyards.  There remain numerous historical sights on the ranch, as well as the huge array of natural beauty and wildlife.

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Stu and Charles Smith – Image courtesy of Smith Madrone

All their wines are produced exclusively from their 34 acres of hillside vineyards planted by the Smith brothers.  The vineyard is planted to 6.25 acres of Riesling, 10.25 acres of Chardonnay and 13 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Merlot, and Cabernet Franc available for blending.

The vineyard sits high atop Spring Mountain, west of St. Helena in the northern Napa Valley. The vineyards sit at elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 feet, on steep slopes which range up to 35%.

Smith Madrone Vineyards at Twilight
Smith Madrone Vineyards at Twilight. Image courtesy of Smith Madrone Vineyards and Winery

Smith Madrone offers four wines, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a special Cook’s Flat . The wines are available for purchase at the winery or on their website.  They produce about 4,000 cases/yr.

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4 Comments

  1. How did it compare with the Marcel Deiss? At $36, would you put it in the Grand Cru Riesling class?

    1. Martin D. Redmond says:

      Great question Jeff! I had the price wrong, it’s actually $30. Having said that, I’ve never had a Grand Cru Riesling so I can’t say for sure. What I do know is that I love this wine and it’s certainly one of my favorite American Rieslings. Can you recommend any Grand Cru Rieslings in the $30-35 range. Would love to try one!

  2. I agree. It’s a killer Riesling. Of course all Smith-Madrone wines are outstanding.

    1. Martin D. Redmond says:

      Thanks Michelle! Indeed they are!

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