Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Smith Madrone 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District Napa Valley ($65)

 If you're looking for a truly age-worthy Cab from Napa Valley at a reasonable price, seek out this gem from Spring Mountain. Yes, it is a little bit rustic in that it has a little bit of environmental herbaceousness (think madrone scrub, and not a bad thing for me tbh), and a good bit of rocky, mountain minerality. The oak is still integrating, but the cocktail of deep red and black fruit, anise, vanilla, toast, sage, and stone is mesmerizing. This is a refreshing departure from some of the often too decadent, over-polished, over-priced wines from Napa Valley bench. It's a resolute mountain wine with a critical point of view from the mountaintop, a wine from a very particular place atop Spring Mountain. I would love to try this again in 20 years. Respect. (94 Points)

 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

- Tim Teichgraeber

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