93 points, Best Buy
A big Napa Valley chardonnay, this has enough power in its fruit to hold the toasty, leesy oak influence in check. There’s a broad feel of alcohol, with mineral freshness to keep it clean, focused on a range of fruit flavors, from yellow apple and nectarine to chamomile, marzipan and orange marmalade. Air brings out a refreshing character in the wine, as juicy as a Bartlett pear or a white peach. Decant this for meaty fish, like a seared albacore steak.
James Melendez video-reviews the 2011 Chardonnay:
“….beautiful flavor characteristics…9.3 out of 10…outstanding wine” and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZt6dkRY4J4&feature=youtu.be
David Lawrason reviews the wine at WineAlign:
From a mature vine site high on Spring Mountain, this maturing chardonnay presents complex aromas of dried earth/forest floor, pecan nuttiness and a touch of caramel. Not an exuberantly fruity style. It’s medium full bodied, firm and dry – a wine with solid structure and some poise within a bigger style. I like how it hangs together and the excellent focus and length. Should drink well for another three to five years.
http://www.winealign.com/wines/62911-Smith-Madrone-Chardonnay-2011
Steve Thurlow reviews the wine at WineAlign:
This is a beautiful very fine Californian chardonnay with a lot of class. It has a complex nose of melon and pineapple fruit with well integrated oak plus nutty and caramel tones with some herbal hints. The palate is very smooth with the fruit well balanced by firm acidity and minerality. It is very understated with a chalky texture and herbal tone with excellent length. Try with sautéed seafood or roast poultry. Best 2014 to 2015.
http://www.winealign.com/wines/62911-Smith-Madrone-Chardonnay-2011
John Szabo, MS, reviews the wine at WineAlign:
A wine of substantially savoury and saliva-inducing qualities – this has some genuine cut and class. This has more than sufficient acids and flavour stuffing to see it integrate over the next 1-3 years. I like the palpable chalky texture and the resinous herbs – much more than just fruit and oak, and a pleasure to drink. Decant if serving now.
http://www.winealign.com/wines/62911-Smith-Madrone-Chardonnay-2011
Michael Godel reviews the 2011 Chardonnay at WineAlign:
Holy reductive toast Napa man. Aromas of buttered toast, glade, duck fat and pencil graphite, which I must say is one stellar note. Flavours of ripe Mutsu (specifically) apple and a resinous chew of late autumn sweet forest needles. Yes the toast is high but so is the quality. Don’t blame the barrel, he’s just the messenger. A great Chardonnay for shellfish and molluscs of the briny kind. Linger on in your golden yellow eyes.
http://www.winealign.com/wines/62911-Smith-Madrone-Chardonnay-2011
Gordon Stimmel reviews the 2011 Chardonnay in the June 7 Toronto Star:
A stunner. Lifted lemon, coconut, beeswax, melon, peach and baked bread aromas are amazing. Then the super silky flavours deliver citronella, vanilla, cling peach, golden apple and lime zest. Did I mention the undertones of limestone, such as a rain-lashed crushed gravel driveway?
93 points and Best Buy
A big Napa Valley chardonnay, this has enough power in its fruit to hold the toasty, leesy oak influence in check. There’s a broad feel of alcohol, with mineral freshness to keep it clean, focused on a range of fruit flavors, from yellow apple and nectarine to chamomile, marzipan and orange marmalade. Air brings out a refreshing character in the wine, as juicy as a Bartlett pear or a white peach. Decant this for meaty fish, like a seared albacore steak.
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of cold cream, lemon curd, and melted butter. In the mouth, bright lemon zest and lemon curd flavors mix with wet stones and grapefruit pith. Excellent acidity and brightness, with a nice airy finish. Only the faintest hint of toasted oak wafts above the juicy fruit. 14.2% alcohol. Score: between 9 and 9.5.
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2014/05/vinography_unboxed_week_of_may_1.html
Isaac James Baker included Smith-Madrone in his “5 California Wineries That Wowed Me in 2013:”
2013 was a great year, wasn’t it? Over the course of the year I tasted a lot of amazing wines and toured many a beautiful California vineyard. As a writer for the daily wine blog Terroirist, I blind-tasted my way through a lot of samples in 2013, most of which hailed from CA. I found myself gravitating toward several producers who put out consistently awesome wines, regardless of vintage or grape variety.
Founded in 1971, Smith-Madrone’s winery is located on Spring Mountain, west of St. Helena. The operation is run by brothers Stuart Smith, managing partner and vineyard manager, and Charles Smith III, winemaker. They dry farm their estate vineyards, which line steep slopes between 1,300 and 2,000 feet in elevation. Their mountain wines are dynamic, lively and they show a refreshing sense of purity and minerality.
91 points: Gold-yellow color with viscous legs. Aromas of whipped honey, pear, apricot and nougat, mixed in with a hint of limestone or chalk. On the palate, the yellow apple and pear fruit is coated in nougat, peanut shell and a distinct macadamia nut flavor. There’s a nice kick to the acid, though, offering some balance. I like this lemon zest and chalk note as well. Bold, but not heavily creamy. Interesting because it’s toasty, but still tangy, and offering some mineral and rock accents. Long finish with notes of honeycomb and toffee. Barrel-fermented and aged 8 months in 100% new French oak.
http://isaacjamesbaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/5-california-wineries-that-wowed-me-in.html?spref=tw
Smith-Madrone News 