The Best Value in Spring Mountain
High above the valley floor, tucked into the rugged slopes of the Spring Mountain District, Smith-Madrone Winery has quietly produced some of Napa Valley’s most honest and compelling wines for over fifty years. In a region where Cabernet routinely commands triple-digit prices, these wines remain a remarkable and increasingly rare value, not because they lack pedigree, but because they refuse to follow trends. Also, they have no mortgage to pay or investors clamoring for greater profits. It pays to be an early adopter, in this case.
Spring Mountain is known for its power. The elevations, lean soils, and cooler temperatures naturally produce wines of structure, depth, and longevity. Yet Smith-Madrone has always pursued something more nuanced. Rather than pushing for sheer size, they focus on restraint, detail, and balance. The result is wines that carry the authority of the mountain, but with an elegance and drinkability that set them apart.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect example. It delivers classic mountain character but framed with freshness and fine structure rather than heaviness. The tannins are present but refined, and the alcohol remains in check. It is powerful, certainly, but more importantly, it is graceful. This is Napa Cabernet as it was made decades ago, and as it rarely is today.
Equally interesting, and more surprising, is the 2019 Riesling. Riesling is an uncommon sight in Napa Valley these days, but here it thrives. The long, cool growing season at elevation preserves stunning acidity while allowing beautiful aromatic development. The wine shows citrus, stone fruit, and mineral notes with precision and energy. It is vibrant, complex, and incredibly versatile at the table.
Together, these wines tell the story of Spring Mountain in its purest form. They offer the depth and aging potential that define the region, but at prices that remain grounded in reality. In today’s Napa Valley, that combination is something special. With neighbors such as Lokoya, Cain, and Revana, there is great value here at these prices.
97 Points, Decanter
From brothers Stu and Charlie Smith comes their 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain, a precise blend of 81.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.7% Cabernet Franc, and 0.4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in 65% new French oak, with only 1,652 cases produced, this wine showcases the meticulous dry farming of their 15.4-hectare vineyard at a 2000ft elevation, with vines dating back to 1971. The 2021 vintage is yet another testament to their mastery, offering a purity and elegance that define these Cabernets, with impeccable structure for long-term cellaring. In 2021, the tannins are firm, soaring, built like sky-scrapers, yet remarkably well-integrated. The nose offers a beautiful black cherry and red currant potpourri, mingling with pressed wildflowers, sage, capsicum, and tobacco leaf. Juicy plum fruit intertwines with a graphite minerality, and while there’s notable density to the fruit, a fine backbone of crunchy acidity imparts a stunning lightness and lift. Readers seeking Napa Cabernets from the 2021 vintage with serious cellaring potential should consider stocking up on Smith Madrone's offerings, as these '21s are true cellar-worthy gems.
94 Points, Decanter
A stellar Riesling from one of the top producers in Napa for this now rare variety. From a high elevation, dry-farmed vines are high on Spring Mountain. This Riesling offers beautiful aromas of white flowers, dried ginger and just the slightest kiss of petrol alongside a note of nectarine skin. The palate is vibrant with tangy lime pith, juicy Meyer lemon pulp and seaspray salinity throughout—a classic.