plenty alive and drinking wonderfully right now; upon open nose of bright red fruit and fresh flowers, palate a bit muted; decanted 1 hour improved dramatically, nice acid, med body, dark ruby red, fruit in balance - not over powering, dusty tannins, slight cocoa finish, thoroughly enjoyed with a cowboy ribeye roast.
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We're on the second-to-last bottle of a case we purchased over 10 years ago, and this wine has certainly had its ups and downs over that period. Our last bottle was flawed and a few have been consumed in closed windows, but on this night 16 years after vintage this bottle was spectacular. Red currant, pipe tobacco, eucalyptus, and cherry chocolate on the nose, the medium palate brought blueberry pie, blackberry compote, chocolate raspberries, cafe mocha, some dried leather, and whiffs of olives into an extended, velvet-glove finish. The acidity is still firm but tannins have really mellowed. Not sure this will improve but in a nice window, so drink up 2024-2026. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93.
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14.2% abv. Recent auction purchase (1 bottle only). Served this alongside a bottle of 2007 V Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena. In comparison, this was young and tannic and a bit tight. Decided to decant this after the first taste. Lower ripeness was apparent here and there were some earthy notes that I thought worked pretty well. Overall, though, this just didn't show very well, with the tannin dominating and the fruit not coming out enough. It was not bad at all, just not yet in harmony at this point.
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Something was off with this bottle, likely premox. Was overall flabby and flat, not like a SM wine (even at 15 years). Cork appeared okay, but this bottle was not consistent with past bottles from this vintage. Big bummer.
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Decanted for 2 hours, then spectacular. I can't imagine this will get any better from here, but based on the robust structure and superb fruit, I think the prime drinking window will continue on for several years. This was my second of 2 bottles. Glad I waited this long to drink, and glad I opened it when I did. Me: 96, wife: 94. Enjoy.
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Drinking so well right now. One of my favorite Smith Madrone vintages. 2+ hr decant that I do for SM cabs as a rule. Opened incredibly well. Nose of blue fruit and spice. Dark inky color. Medium to long finish. The tannins are mellow but lurking. Plush round mouthfeel - luxurious taste of dark fruits and some spice. 1 bottle left that I will try to save for a few years as I think this still has several more years.
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Opened and paired with seared NY Strip off the grill. Extremely floral nose of cherry blossoms, eucalyptus, pine needle, and cherry menthol. The palate is full, round, concentrated, and juicy, bringing brambly blackberries, huckleberries, blueberries, chocolate cherries, cafe mocha, pipe tobacco, dried leather, and cedar chips into a lengthy finish. Drink 2021-2028. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 94.
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Visited my parents, who I had not seen from closer than a few yards since the pandemic started. I gave them this bottle a few years ago and they saved it. So glad they did. Had it with a dinner of pot roast and homemade noodles-- family classic and a solid pairing. Wow. This is so good right now. I need to find a way to stockpile S-M CS while they are still making it. Classic, restrained but hedonistic CS, like the wines of my youth. (See: '68 G3 from BV.) Smooth tannins, still fresh in the mouth, all the right notes of fruit with the secondaries rising in the background, nice long finish. For a warmer vintage, this was still right in the sweet spot. Best cab I have had in the last few years, maybe longer.
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2+ hour decant. With this much air, the wine is smooth but tannins still grip the palate. Blackberries in abundance. Some underbrush, minerals and sweet Oak. The finish is 20+ seconds. This wine still probably has at least several more years before it hits its peak. Based upon this bottle I'd say the drinking window extends to 2027 or later.
An incredible amount of graphite in this bottle. Otherwise aging nicely, tannins starting to resolve but still present. Would like it better but, at least for me, the graphite is pretty overpowering.
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Coravin Glass Taste: This is definitely a very nicely aged Cabernet. Nice aroma and plenty of fruit. Lots of depth, texture and smooth balance. Excellent. Being 13 years old, I was concerned with where it was “at”, but there is a ton of life and years still ahead of it. A very well-built wine. Man, I have just always like what the Smith Brothers do with their CS! Yummy! Get More? Hell yes!!!
right out of the bottle, nose was sharp with lots of tart black fruit; palate was tight, harsh, tannins bracing, gritty. decanted for one hour and the wine settled in. picked up mellowed pomegranate and spiced plum on the nose. med (+?) body, med acidity, blackberry, fleshy dark cherry, bell pepper. tannins more integrated after decanting, but still a bit racey. tart finish, sour cherry, med in length. overall nice wine, maybe needed a little longer to decant or a couple more years on its side. would have liked more depth/layers to round it out. paired well with rich ribeye, mushrooms, and crispy smashed potatoes.
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Still some time to enjoy my other bottles, drinking well, but still a decent amount of acid and tannins still around. Very delicious with dark fruits and I think it has some more years left that we can enjoy the other 2 bottles in my cellar.
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Have had several bottles over the years of the 2007 (a stellar vintage); this was the last and the best, it is at its peak now and this is the best bottle of wine we have had in 2018. Elegant, but structured, Bordeaux-like varietally correct Cab. Some hint of tannins left. We let it breathe for 2 hours and DID NOT DECANT (we have had advice that with older wines you try it first and probably do not decant except into the glass a bit before you plan to consume and that has worked for older wines, such as this almost 11 year old). Best wine of the year thus far by far.
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PnP. Crumbly cork. Nose intense, dark fruited. Palate initially some anise/herbal flavor, opens up with time, cassis and more red fruit flavors with nice acidity. Open for business and good with a meaty meal but wished for some more complexity. 91 pts
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Had with filet and crab cakes on Chrismas Eve. A little less structure and bite than the last bottle, but could be due to bottle variation. Still, was concentrated, smooth and elegant. Drink through 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 93.
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Opened and decanted 1.5 hours ahead of pork chops. Seemed a little more closed than 9 months ago. Might be entering a dumb phase. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 92.
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Clear black-garnet color, little to no sediment. Aromas of blackcurrant, creme de cassis, roasted coffee beans, smoked paprika, black olive, tea leaf, hints of bell pepper- medium in intensity. Seamless and integrated on the palate, flavors consistent with the nose, leading with bright black fruit and iron minerality with secondary depth of tea, tobacco and savory spice. Rich medium to full body, elegant density, medium acid, and thick silky tannins. Good length and density on the finish- 30-40 seconds. Excellent, still on the young side, picked up weight and density from prior bottles. Drink/hold.
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Tannins slowly starting to resolve. Cassis, red fruits, black cherry, and finishes with new all-american vanilla oak. The nose is very oaky, but pleasantly surprised when tasted. I like how this is very different from what I consider a typical Napa cab. There's no question it is a new world cab, but none of the jammy-ness and purple drank.
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Just had our last bottle of 2007. Almost 10 years old, it's bold and mature. Powerful with cassis, black fruits, scent of wood. It drank beautifully without any air time. I had quite some 07 SM before, and you can tell this is a wine that ages really well, compared how closed it was just two years ago. Impressive! Wish we had bought more.
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PnP at restaurant. Tell tale signs of oak on the nose, present on palate too. Medium bodied. Despite the oak, pretty well balanced with black currant, dark fruits. Extremely smooth and silky texture. + bonus points for texture. Just a bit too much oak for my taste, but still enjoyable.
Every other Smith Madrone cab I've drank has had an herby eucalyptus note that I love, and I didn't find that this time.
Saving more for day 2, will revise if changes.
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This was just straight-up awesome. In a great place right now and for the price point it's an unbelievable deal. Wine was well integrated, more old world Napa style. Very approachable. Suspect it can go for many more years, but nice to see it aging so incredibly well.
Nine years young and not one bit over the hill. A very nice mix of pepper, cassis and blackberry. Full bodied but balanced. Great representation of Spring Mountain Cab. The only thing keeping this from even rarer scores is a relative lack of finish.
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Wow, this has improved with some rest and looks like it will get even better. Classic cab flavors, judicious oak, fine but prominent tannins that suggest a long life. No flab on this one, and enough clean acid that I think it will go another ten years. Should have bought more. Next time I see a good price on the current releases, I am all over them. At least half a case is in order next time.
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Smooth showing nice fruit with some pepper notes. Once again when I taste this wine I think of old school Napa Cab. Very well balanced and not overdone or over the top extraction. Nice wine.
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Consistent with previous notes a few months ago: concentrated, juicy, funky, herbal, and sharp. Paired wonderfully with filet and twice-baked potatoes on Christmas Eve.
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Delicious, with tangy black fruits, floral perfume, and freshly turned soil. Full-bodied. This wine is drinking well now, but has many years to go yet.
Rich and ripe, yet not like the saggy fruit bags that many Napa Valley producers push into the marketplace. Alongside the fierce black and blue fruit bottled here, I get curious medicinal tones, blood, herbs. There's bite here -- literally in form of spice but also in its attack. It's a sharp Cab with light tannins and acid, impressive intensity and plenty of length.
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Improved and opended up from last tasting note back in November 2013. Very accessible right now. Decanted 2 hours but did not need it. Nose is funky, herbal, and dirty. Great juicy red and black fruit with tobacco, dried herbs, and trademark SM eucalyptus on the palate and into the finish. Developing a nice silky texture with good weight and viscosity too. Phenomenal wine.
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I can always tell if a wine is drinking very well if my wife asks for a second glass, and then a third... She doesn't profess the be a wine expert but has a very good palate nonetheless. Popped and poured with a decanting pour spout. It showed a deep garnet color. Aromas of crushed stone, dried violet, cassis, blackberry and tobacco- nicely complex with a lot of secondary emergence. This has a striking creamy silky texture, and shows bright currant fruit, with layers of mineral, clove spice, black tea and cedar. Great complexity and elegance. Fine tannins. Very nice intensity of flavors on the finish. SM can take some time to come around- this is showing very well now, still very young for SM. Exceptional.
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I confess that I p'n'p-ed this one after swilling the '09 Turnbull, but oddly enough the youth of this wine became more evident as it approached room temp and took air. This was good, but still too young. (Remind self to read notes before fetching the wine.) With luck, I've buried the last two bottles far enough down in the boxes to keep me from rushing things again. I'll happily take an invite to taste nocoretiree's last bottle next year in exchange for sharing one of mine in another 3-6 years. This wine has great things ahead of it, and it's improving just as a classic Cab should. No rush to drink it, and I'll gladly cellar a few other vintages whenever I get the chance.
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This is everything you would want a Napa Cab to be. It is drinking like a champ now. Definitely improved and the very few rough edges have been smoothed out, with everything well-integrated. Saving our last bottle for 2015.
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Layered, lively mountain-grown Cab. There's plenty going on here though I bet this wine's best years are ahead of it. Acidity, menthol, red and black fruit, licorice. A little tight and short on finish. I'm hoping another 2-3 years will bring out more. Regardless, a fine effort.
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Second bottle. This one did not open up as easily as the first one (see review on 06-07-2013). That said, it was a classic Napa Cab, lots of tannin for a lower alcohol style Cab. Truly excellent-tasting notes from June 7 consistent with this...just quite a bit tighter. Best to hold off until 2014 or 2015 unless you like them young, in which case I recommend breathing AND decanting. But I think it would be a waste to not wait at least a year. We have two bottles left - will open one later in 2014 and reassess.
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Opened and decanted 9+ hours and drank with dinner of roasted garlic pork loin, steamed vegetables, and baked sweet potato. Dark, cherry/garnet color. Nose of eucalyptus, sweet tobacco, cranberries, lavender, spicy oak and herbs. Concentrated palate follows with dried cherries, leather, subtle blackberry currant, black licorice, and dark raspberry tobacco. This is a medium-bodied, Bordeaux-like wine but has a greater touch of vanilla from the American oak. Finish is very compact but very refined. Strong acidity flows throughout and adds a nice touch pairing with rich food, so decant for as long as I did if you drink today. Will probably be best after 2017.
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This is the current release (it's late 2013 right now) and this wine needs time. Or maybe it's just shutdown and I should have opened it over the summer when it came out, but I don't think so. This is pretty hard, not harsh, but it needs time to settle down and soften up a bit. I almost poured a little merlot into my glass to see what would happen. I'm not giving scores, but I wouldn't give this what others have based on how it is drinking right now. I bet if I come back to this again in a bunch of years, it could well be spectacular. So we'll just try to ignore this for another 4 to 8 years and see what happens.
Last glass of the bottle at the bar and showed a more medium body for a napa cab. Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, mocha, baking spices and big oak flavors. Delicious cab from Spring Mountain.
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'07 is current release, they hold this back at the winery. 22 months new American oak. Nose shows oak but also developed spice, like earthy mint or euclyptus. Palette is big, light spice, lots of fruit, oak is integrated and has structure for aging potential. Some underlying tertiary components of sweet earth.
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A bouquet as a veil, or something as haunting. Enchanting aroma. Fresh and juicy blackberry aroma. Soft spice, wild, mineral, cedar box. Full and finely wound texture. A mouthful and freshness. Powerful tannin, more ripe than bitter. Day 3 and still holding together nicely. Harmony of stone and fruit. Spice notes are more than just an accent. Palate has shed some its flesh from the first day. A more angular drink today, but still with a fresh kick.
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Man is this a home run in the glass. Powerful and extracted but with super intense tannins that are integrated. One for the cellar and the record books.
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One of the best Cabs and one of the best Napa Cabs we have had in a long time. Appearance is on the inky side, short of a Syrah. Nose was full fruit and earthy wood. Initial taste after an hour of breathing was a touch of graphite, dark roast coffee. cigar box and fruit. Very much on robust side, with enough finesse to be a fun punch. Better than a medium finish. Evolved as the evening went on, great structure, believe this has short term aging potential. Great Napa Cab for price. Highest rating I have ever given a wine in my short time on CellarTracker.
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Napa Valley mountain winery visits- 4/25/13: Broad aromas of vanilla, cassis and tobacco. Nice complex and layered palate with notes of roasted coffee, ripe blackcurrant, black olive and tea over supple silky firm tannins. Lingering finish with notes of spice and dark fruit. Excellent- showing well young while firmly structured.
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Taste of Smith Madrone: Opaque violet color with lovely cassis, dried herb, roast coffee and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate it's light-bodied, and balanced with youthful tannins and cassis, blackberry, and and roast coffee flavors. Medium-long finish. 14.2% alcohol. Retail-$45; 1,434 cases produced Approachable now, but will improve with some additional aging.
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Blind Tasting - New World Cabernets; 2/11/2013-2/17/2013 (My Place - Washington, DC): Dark and brooding on the nose, with blackberries, cassis, toasted oak and hints of sweet mocha. Dry, tight tannins on the palate. The heavily toasted oak bursts onto the scene early and stands its ground until the finish. (When I poured a glass for my girlfriend, her response was: “Did they age this in whiskey barrels?”) Luckily there’s a good dose of blackberries and plums fruit, which is powerful enough to tame the oak just a bit. Violet, soil and tobacco leaf flavors (almost undetectable upon uncorking) become vibrant with just 15 minutes of air, and more and more so over the course of a few hours. That sweet mocha flavor lingers long onto the finish. Good stuff, but must be a fan of the toast.
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This wine is really coming around. It is likely to a very long lived one and could easily continue to improve over the next decade. Nicely layered black fruits with a mineral element to them
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1/1/2024 - dlowrey99 Likes this wine: 94 Points
plenty alive and drinking wonderfully right now; upon open nose of bright red fruit and fresh flowers, palate a bit muted; decanted 1 hour improved dramatically, nice acid, med body, dark ruby red, fruit in balance - not over powering, dusty tannins, slight cocoa finish, thoroughly enjoyed with a cowboy ribeye roast.
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12/31/2023 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy, like I remember the others. It just didn't have the beautiful mouth filling greatness I was waiting for. Good stuff, just not great.
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12/22/2023 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
We're on the second-to-last bottle of a case we purchased over 10 years ago, and this wine has certainly had its ups and downs over that period. Our last bottle was flawed and a few have been consumed in closed windows, but on this night 16 years after vintage this bottle was spectacular. Red currant, pipe tobacco, eucalyptus, and cherry chocolate on the nose, the medium palate brought blueberry pie, blackberry compote, chocolate raspberries, cafe mocha, some dried leather, and whiffs of olives into an extended, velvet-glove finish. The acidity is still firm but tannins have really mellowed. Not sure this will improve but in a nice window, so drink up 2024-2026. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93.
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9/16/2023 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
14.2% abv. Recent auction purchase (1 bottle only).
Served this alongside a bottle of 2007 V Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena. In comparison, this was young and tannic and a bit tight. Decided to decant this after the first taste. Lower ripeness was apparent here and there were some earthy notes that I thought worked pretty well. Overall, though, this just didn't show very well, with the tannin dominating and the fruit not coming out enough. It was not bad at all, just not yet in harmony at this point.
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7/5/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Wow (and finally) such harmony and grace, and concertation. Glad I waited. First sip, we shall see where it goes.
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10/17/2022 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 89 Points
Garner, Medium Body, dark red & black fruit, grainy tannins, medium acid, short finish
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7/2/2022 - jlhkiss wrote: flawed
Something was off with this bottle, likely premox. Was overall flabby and flat, not like a SM wine (even at 15 years). Cork appeared okay, but this bottle was not consistent with past bottles from this vintage. Big bummer.
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1/8/2022 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great value wine. 2 hour decant. Rich color. Blackberries 'n cream. Faint hints of Eucalyptus, dried herbs. Approaching velvet on the palate.
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7/8/2021 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, then spectacular. I can't imagine this will get any better from here, but based on the robust structure and superb fruit, I think the prime drinking window will continue on for several years. This was my second of 2 bottles. Glad I waited this long to drink, and glad I opened it when I did. Me: 96, wife: 94. Enjoy.
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6/26/2021 - jonmartin1520 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking so well right now. One of my favorite Smith Madrone vintages. 2+ hr decant that I do for SM cabs as a rule. Opened incredibly well. Nose of blue fruit and spice. Dark inky color. Medium to long finish. The tannins are mellow but lurking. Plush round mouthfeel - luxurious taste of dark fruits and some spice. 1 bottle left that I will try to save for a few years as I think this still has several more years.
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5/15/2021 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened and paired with seared NY Strip off the grill. Extremely floral nose of cherry blossoms, eucalyptus, pine needle, and cherry menthol. The palate is full, round, concentrated, and juicy, bringing brambly blackberries, huckleberries, blueberries, chocolate cherries, cafe mocha, pipe tobacco, dried leather, and cedar chips into a lengthy finish. Drink 2021-2028. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 94.
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4/24/2021 - Not647f wrote:
Visited my parents, who I had not seen from closer than a few yards since the pandemic started. I gave them this bottle a few years ago and they saved it. So glad they did. Had it with a dinner of pot roast and homemade noodles-- family classic and a solid pairing. Wow. This is so good right now. I need to find a way to stockpile S-M CS while they are still making it. Classic, restrained but hedonistic CS, like the wines of my youth. (See: '68 G3 from BV.) Smooth tannins, still fresh in the mouth, all the right notes of fruit with the secondaries rising in the background, nice long finish. For a warmer vintage, this was still right in the sweet spot. Best cab I have had in the last few years, maybe longer.
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8/1/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
2+ hour decant. With this much air, the wine is smooth but tannins still grip the palate. Blackberries in abundance. Some underbrush, minerals and sweet Oak. The finish is 20+ seconds. This wine still probably has at least several more years before it hits its peak. Based upon this bottle I'd say the drinking window extends to 2027 or later.
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7/18/2020 - Desolation Row Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last bottle unfortunately. It is drinking nicely with good fruit and well integrated tannins. I still do have a 2007 Cooks Flat Reserve.
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5/12/2020 - Tarpon222 wrote: 94 Points
Smooth as silk and really enjoyed. I love this winery and the bros. The real deal in every respect. Got plenty more to drink!
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4/15/2020 - TC16 wrote: 90 Points
An incredible amount of graphite in this bottle. Otherwise aging nicely, tannins starting to resolve but still present. Would like it better but, at least for me, the graphite is pretty overpowering.
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2/8/2020 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin Glass Taste: This is definitely a very nicely aged Cabernet. Nice aroma and plenty of fruit. Lots of depth, texture and smooth balance. Excellent. Being 13 years old, I was concerned with where it was “at”, but there is a ton of life and years still ahead of it. A very well-built wine. Man, I have just always like what the Smith Brothers do with their CS! Yummy! Get More? Hell yes!!!
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9/27/2019 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Was muted on this tasting. Seems in a dormant phase (same experience last December). Drink 2022-2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 90.
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6/24/2019 - dlowrey99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
right out of the bottle, nose was sharp with lots of tart black fruit; palate was tight, harsh, tannins bracing, gritty. decanted for one hour and the wine settled in. picked up mellowed pomegranate and spiced plum on the nose. med (+?) body, med acidity, blackberry, fleshy dark cherry, bell pepper. tannins more integrated after decanting, but still a bit racey. tart finish, sour cherry, med in length. overall nice wine, maybe needed a little longer to decant or a couple more years on its side. would have liked more depth/layers to round it out. paired well with rich ribeye, mushrooms, and crispy smashed potatoes.
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5/24/2019 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent Bordeaux earth. This would never be guessed as a California wine. Nice and smooth earth. Not a lot of fruit. Pleasant smooth finish.
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2/6/2019 - Tarpon222 wrote: 92 Points
Drank over 2 nights. Very enjoyable
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12/24/2018 - jonmartin1520 wrote: 94 Points
Still some time to enjoy my other bottles, drinking well, but still a decent amount of acid and tannins still around. Very delicious with dark fruits and I think it has some more years left that we can enjoy the other 2 bottles in my cellar.
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6/1/2018 - ldluttrell Likes this wine:
Soft, smooth and still has good fruit, nice ruby color. Holding up very good.
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4/5/2018 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Have had several bottles over the years of the 2007 (a stellar vintage); this was the last and the best, it is at its peak now and this is the best bottle of wine we have had in 2018. Elegant, but structured, Bordeaux-like varietally correct Cab. Some hint of tannins left. We let it breathe for 2 hours and DID NOT DECANT (we have had advice that with older wines you try it first and probably do not decant except into the glass a bit before you plan to consume and that has worked for older wines, such as this almost 11 year old). Best wine of the year thus far by far.
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12/25/2017 - fred o. Likes this wine:
PnP. Crumbly cork. Nose intense, dark fruited. Palate initially some anise/herbal flavor, opens up with time, cassis and more red fruit flavors with nice acidity. Open for business and good with a meaty meal but wished for some more complexity. 91 pts
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12/24/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with filet and crab cakes on Chrismas Eve. A little less structure and bite than the last bottle, but could be due to bottle variation. Still, was concentrated, smooth and elegant. Drink through 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 93.
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11/23/2017 - B&PBaker wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful old world BD. Smooth long finish. Just like it should be. 94
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7/14/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and decanted 1.5 hours ahead of pork chops. Seemed a little more closed than 9 months ago. Might be entering a dumb phase. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 92.
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6/29/2017 - cjsadler Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well right now, but there's definitely healthy tannins still-- will probably continue to improve.
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5/21/2017 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Clear black-garnet color, little to no sediment. Aromas of blackcurrant, creme de cassis, roasted coffee beans, smoked paprika, black olive, tea leaf, hints of bell pepper- medium in intensity. Seamless and integrated on the palate, flavors consistent with the nose, leading with bright black fruit and iron minerality with secondary depth of tea, tobacco and savory spice. Rich medium to full body, elegant density, medium acid, and thick silky tannins. Good length and density on the finish- 30-40 seconds. Excellent, still on the young side, picked up weight and density from prior bottles. Drink/hold.
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5/19/2017 - TC16 wrote: 92 Points
Tannins slowly starting to resolve. Cassis, red fruits, black cherry, and finishes with new all-american vanilla oak. The nose is very oaky, but pleasantly surprised when tasted. I like how this is very different from what I consider a typical Napa cab. There's no question it is a new world cab, but none of the jammy-ness and purple drank.
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2/13/2017 - XYTD Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just had our last bottle of 2007. Almost 10 years old, it's bold and mature. Powerful with cassis, black fruits, scent of wood. It drank beautifully without any air time. I had quite some 07 SM before, and you can tell this is a wine that ages really well, compared how closed it was just two years ago. Impressive! Wish we had bought more.
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12/23/2016 - Eric.S Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP at restaurant. Tell tale signs of oak on the nose, present on palate too. Medium bodied. Despite the oak, pretty well balanced with black currant, dark fruits. Extremely smooth and silky texture. + bonus points for texture. Just a bit too much oak for my taste, but still enjoyable.
Every other Smith Madrone cab I've drank has had an herby eucalyptus note that I love, and I didn't find that this time.
Saving more for day 2, will revise if changes.
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10/1/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
This was just straight-up awesome. In a great place right now and for the price point it's an unbelievable deal. Wine was well integrated, more old world Napa style. Very approachable. Suspect it can go for many more years, but nice to see it aging so incredibly well.
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9/18/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking incredible right now in a peak window. Consistent with previous notes.
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8/21/2016 - bgreenak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful bottle of wine. Ready to drink now. Complex and balanced. A terrific wine for the money. Wish I had more.
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8/6/2016 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Nine years young and not one bit over the hill. A very nice mix of pepper, cassis and blackberry. Full bodied but balanced. Great representation of Spring Mountain Cab. The only thing keeping this from even rarer scores is a relative lack of finish.
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5/2/2016 - Tarpon222 wrote: 92 Points
Always love Smith Madrone and this is excellent. Full bodied wine. Glad to have more and let them age further.
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4/10/2016 - Not647f wrote:
Wow, this has improved with some rest and looks like it will get even better. Classic cab flavors, judicious oak, fine but prominent tannins that suggest a long life. No flab on this one, and enough clean acid that I think it will go another ten years. Should have bought more. Next time I see a good price on the current releases, I am all over them. At least half a case is in order next time.
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3/19/2016 - cjsadler Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cassis, black pepper. Everyone loved this wine. Tannins are pretty firm on the finish-- this will last quite a while, but is great now.
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1/18/2016 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smooth showing nice fruit with some pepper notes. Once again when I taste this wine I think of old school Napa Cab. Very well balanced and not overdone or over the top extraction. Nice wine.
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12/24/2015 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with previous notes a few months ago: concentrated, juicy, funky, herbal, and sharp. Paired wonderfully with filet and twice-baked potatoes on Christmas Eve.
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11/5/2015 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, with tangy black fruits, floral perfume, and freshly turned soil. Full-bodied. This wine is drinking well now, but has many years to go yet.
I wish I had bought more.
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10/10/2015 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich and ripe, yet not like the saggy fruit bags that many Napa Valley producers push into the marketplace. Alongside the fierce black and blue fruit bottled here, I get curious medicinal tones, blood, herbs. There's bite here -- literally in form of spice but also in its attack. It's a sharp Cab with light tannins and acid, impressive intensity and plenty of length.
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9/20/2015 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Improved and opended up from last tasting note back in November 2013. Very accessible right now. Decanted 2 hours but did not need it. Nose is funky, herbal, and dirty. Great juicy red and black fruit with tobacco, dried herbs, and trademark SM eucalyptus on the palate and into the finish. Developing a nice silky texture with good weight and viscosity too. Phenomenal wine.
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7/2/2015 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 94 Points
I can always tell if a wine is drinking very well if my wife asks for a second glass, and then a third... She doesn't profess the be a wine expert but has a very good palate nonetheless. Popped and poured with a decanting pour spout. It showed a deep garnet color. Aromas of crushed stone, dried violet, cassis, blackberry and tobacco- nicely complex with a lot of secondary emergence. This has a striking creamy silky texture, and shows bright currant fruit, with layers of mineral, clove spice, black tea and cedar. Great complexity and elegance. Fine tannins. Very nice intensity of flavors on the finish. SM can take some time to come around- this is showing very well now, still very young for SM. Exceptional.
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10/7/2014 - Not647f wrote:
I confess that I p'n'p-ed this one after swilling the '09 Turnbull, but oddly enough the youth of this wine became more evident as it approached room temp and took air. This was good, but still too young. (Remind self to read notes before fetching the wine.) With luck, I've buried the last two bottles far enough down in the boxes to keep me from rushing things again. I'll happily take an invite to taste nocoretiree's last bottle next year in exchange for sharing one of mine in another 3-6 years. This wine has great things ahead of it, and it's improving just as a classic Cab should. No rush to drink it, and I'll gladly cellar a few other vintages whenever I get the chance.
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8/20/2014 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is everything you would want a Napa Cab to be. It is drinking like a champ now. Definitely improved and the very few rough edges have been smoothed out, with everything well-integrated. Saving our last bottle for 2015.
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2/23/2014 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Layered, lively mountain-grown Cab. There's plenty going on here though I bet this wine's best years are ahead of it. Acidity, menthol, red and black fruit, licorice. A little tight and short on finish. I'm hoping another 2-3 years will bring out more. Regardless, a fine effort.
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12/9/2013 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second bottle. This one did not open up as easily as the first one (see review on 06-07-2013). That said, it was a classic Napa Cab, lots of tannin for a lower alcohol style Cab. Truly excellent-tasting notes from June 7 consistent with this...just quite a bit tighter. Best to hold off until 2014 or 2015 unless you like them young, in which case I recommend breathing AND decanting. But I think it would be a waste to not wait at least a year. We have two bottles left - will open one later in 2014 and reassess.
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11/3/2013 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened and decanted 9+ hours and drank with dinner of roasted garlic pork loin, steamed vegetables, and baked sweet potato. Dark, cherry/garnet color. Nose of eucalyptus, sweet tobacco, cranberries, lavender, spicy oak and herbs. Concentrated palate follows with dried cherries, leather, subtle blackberry currant, black licorice, and dark raspberry tobacco. This is a medium-bodied, Bordeaux-like wine but has a greater touch of vanilla from the American oak. Finish is very compact but very refined. Strong acidity flows throughout and adds a nice touch pairing with rich food, so decant for as long as I did if you drink today. Will probably be best after 2017.
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10/19/2013 - Trolson wrote: 84 Points
Good, though should allow to age more. And, if drink now, allow at least two hours to decant.
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10/7/2013 - Not647f wrote:
This is the current release (it's late 2013 right now) and this wine needs time. Or maybe it's just shutdown and I should have opened it over the summer when it came out, but I don't think so. This is pretty hard, not harsh, but it needs time to settle down and soften up a bit. I almost poured a little merlot into my glass to see what would happen. I'm not giving scores, but I wouldn't give this what others have based on how it is drinking right now. I bet if I come back to this again in a bunch of years, it could well be spectacular. So we'll just try to ignore this for another 4 to 8 years and see what happens.
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10/3/2013 - chatters wrote: flawed
six nations tasting - (pyrmont wharf, sydney): corked
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9/15/2013 - SLR204 wrote: 90 Points
Last glass of the bottle at the bar and showed a more medium body for a napa cab. Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, mocha, baking spices and big oak flavors. Delicious cab from Spring Mountain.
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9/11/2013 - selkirk Likes this wine: 93 Points
We really liked this wine. Started out spicy, definite tannins but so nicely balanced and just delightful to drink.
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8/15/2013 - GTFreek wrote:
'07 is current release, they hold this back at the winery. 22 months new American oak. Nose shows oak but also developed spice, like earthy mint or euclyptus. Palette is big, light spice, lots of fruit, oak is integrated and has structure for aging potential. Some underlying tertiary components of sweet earth.
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8/12/2013 - nzinkgraf wrote:
A bouquet as a veil, or something as haunting. Enchanting aroma. Fresh and juicy blackberry aroma. Soft spice, wild, mineral, cedar box. Full and finely wound texture. A mouthful and freshness. Powerful tannin, more ripe than bitter.
Day 3 and still holding together nicely. Harmony of stone and fruit. Spice notes are more than just an accent. Palate has shed some its flesh from the first day. A more angular drink today, but still with a fresh kick.
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8/7/2013 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Man is this a home run in the glass. Powerful and extracted but with super intense tannins that are integrated. One for the cellar and the record books.
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6/7/2013 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best Cabs and one of the best Napa Cabs we have had in a long time. Appearance is on the inky side, short of a Syrah. Nose was full fruit and earthy wood. Initial taste after an hour of breathing was a touch of graphite, dark roast coffee. cigar box and fruit. Very much on robust side, with enough finesse to be a fun punch. Better than a medium finish. Evolved as the evening went on, great structure, believe this has short term aging potential. Great Napa Cab for price. Highest rating I have ever given a wine in my short time on CellarTracker.
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5/5/2013 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Napa Valley mountain winery visits- 4/25/13: Broad aromas of vanilla, cassis and tobacco. Nice complex and layered palate with notes of roasted coffee, ripe blackcurrant, black olive and tea over supple silky firm tannins. Lingering finish with notes of spice and dark fruit. Excellent- showing well young while firmly structured.
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3/30/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Taste of Smith Madrone: Opaque violet color with lovely cassis, dried herb, roast coffee and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate it's light-bodied, and balanced with youthful tannins and cassis, blackberry, and and roast coffee flavors. Medium-long finish. 14.2% alcohol. Retail-$45; 1,434 cases produced Approachable now, but will improve with some additional aging.
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2/12/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
Blind Tasting - New World Cabernets; 2/11/2013-2/17/2013 (My Place - Washington, DC): Dark and brooding on the nose, with blackberries, cassis, toasted oak and hints of sweet mocha. Dry, tight tannins on the palate. The heavily toasted oak bursts onto the scene early and stands its ground until the finish. (When I poured a glass for my girlfriend, her response was: “Did they age this in whiskey barrels?”) Luckily there’s a good dose of blackberries and plums fruit, which is powerful enough to tame the oak just a bit. Violet, soil and tobacco leaf flavors (almost undetectable upon uncorking) become vibrant with just 15 minutes of air, and more and more so over the course of a few hours. That sweet mocha flavor lingers long onto the finish. Good stuff, but must be a fan of the toast.
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2/10/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is really coming around. It is likely to a very long lived one and could easily continue to improve over the next decade. Nicely layered black fruits with a mineral element to them
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2/4/2013 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite approachable for being so young. Sweet, ripe dark fruit dominates. Full bodied with a medium length finish.
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1/31/2013 - Trolson wrote: 91 Points
Reminds us of a South American wine: very earthy. Interesting. Will be anxious to see how this ages. Really like it.??
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12/24/2012 - sjdcellar wrote: 92 Points
very good bottle - we love spring mountain but had never had this. smooth and minty with pure moutain fruit flavors. delicious.
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