The aroma of the 2019 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon immediately hits you with a luxurious combination of blue and black fruit. Cassis, black cherry, marionberry and black plums dominate. Dig in a little deeper and you will find subtle hints of black pepper, graphite, black olives and a range of spices. An experienced taster should also be able to identify the signature quality that 12% Cabernet Franc lends to this wine’s seductive nose. Medium weight on the palate, this is an exceptionally lively and elegant wine, loaded with delicious dark fruit. It is bright, creamy and plush at mid-palate, then slowly tapers off to a long, lingering finish that is both succulent and zingy. It is a completely lovely wine that qualifies as serious fun in a glass. The Spring Mountain pedigree insures deliciously integrated tannins and a long life-span.
Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc
TASTING NOTES:
You can feel the dappled sunlight in this wine as the flavors shift from warm, sunny forest berries to cool forest-floor tannins. Those beautiful tannins coat the fruit in a drape of dark riches—espresso-roast coffee, redwood tea, smoke and madrone. Stu Smith has been farming the steep slopes of Spring Mountain without irrigation since 1971 (it’s not named Spring Mountain for nothing). This is pretty smart cabernet, especially at the price—a 2019 that should age well.
- Wine & Spirits, 93 pts.
Good acidity and firm tannins combine for a grippy texture in this tangy, red-fruited wine made from the dry-farmed mountain property. Slightly lean red cherries and raspberries are accented with light herbal, toasty notes.
- Wine Enthusiast, 92 pts.
