2001 Smith-Madrone Riesling

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 90.3 points

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  12/26/2016 - Sid G Likes this wine: 90 Points

  In Dec. 2003 I attended a wine-tasting dinner at the Ahwanee in Yosemite Park and one of the Smith family was there discussing the Smith-Madrone Rieslings. He strongly recommended more bottle age than was typical for this variety and I took his advice and put down several bottles of the 2001 vintage we were tasting that eve. I tried one a few years ago and loved it and kept one battle in the cabinet. Now I decided it was time to see what happened to my last bottle after its 15 year nap. It was still sound, although it had lost almost all bouquet. As has been my experience with older white wines, it had lost almost all sweetness, although this was never a very sweet wine. It had balance, a pleasant green apple acidity, and surprising body for a white wine this old. I don't think it benefited as much as I hoped from the long bottle age but it was undamaged by it too. It remained a superior Riesling and a lovely wine.

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  6/21/2007 - rmodak wrote: 90 Points

  Surprisingly delicious and youthful. Fresh nose of lime, green apples and steel. Full mouthfeel with moderate sweetness, but refreshing acidity on the finish. Tasted more like a good Spatlese than any other Cali riesling I have had. Should last a while longer.

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  2/12/2007 - incident wrote: 91 Points

  Great example of what can be done with Riesling in California. Nice fruit, great acidity.

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