Michael Smith

Smith Madrone

Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Have It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix


Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim. 


Nose of red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs, cola, Mediterranean spices, light vegetables, earth, dark chocolates and black pepper.


Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.


Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, cedar, licorice, toast, light vanilla, chocolates, tobacco, diet cola, herbs, coffee, vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn. 


Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.


This 4-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking very fresh and young. Fruit forward with lots of earth notes to compliment it. 


Rich, elegant and not in your face kind of Napa Cabernet. Spicy and tangy. Complex and interesting. 


Showing a really nice nose, once it opened up, with lots of earth notes. Reminds me of a Left Bank Bordeaux. Delicious. 

 

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter. 


Needs more bottle time, and will continue to age nicely in the next 25 years. A good quality wine with good potential to become a 94+ point wine.  


I had a few vintages of this wine, and it truly shines at 20 years of age. 


A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. Paired really well with my Stilton Blue Cheese. 


A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Merlot. Aged in (65% new) French oak barrels for 18 months. 


14.3% alcohol by volume. 


92 points. 


$65.
— 19 days ago

Doug, Ted and 8 others liked this

Peter Michael Winery

'Ma Belle-Fille' Chardonnay 2015

Drinking great. Sweet for a chardonnay but tasting great with scallops — a month ago

Tom, Juan and 2 others liked this

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Deep dark chocolate and forest floor. Niiiiice. Verily nice — 2 months ago

Paul, Rob and 1 other liked this

Peter Michael Winery

'La Carrière' Knights Valley Chardonnay 2021

So first, a caveat: This NEEDS food! It just does. When first opened I really wasn’t a fan, tried to pair it with some lighter charcuterie fare and cheese and it just did not gel. It isn’t the crisp, light bodied chard you’d expect it to be, it’s full bodied, thick, and complex, but once we found the right food, paired with steelhead salmon cooked in butter and bacon grease, wooooah, this moves like you’d found the perfect dancing partner. The color is typical Chardonnay yellow with green hues towards the middle, with strong Meyer lemon and slight dusty stone in on the nose, maybe even some leafy, vegetal notes hidden in there. — 25 days ago

Robert, Bob and 5 others liked this

Smith Madrone

Spring Mountain District Chardonnay 2021

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of yellow apples, light cedar, fresh apricots, light toasted nuts and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, apples, grapefruits, bitter herbs, light earth, honey, spices and white pepper.

Long finish with lemons and light herbs.

This young Chardonnay from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully right out of the bottle. Elegant, rich and tasty. Nicely balanced and fruit forward.

Juicy and entertaining, with light oak notes to compliment the fruits. Spicy and refreshing. Complex and engaging, and better when not too cold.

I had a few vintages of this wine, and it always delivers. This vintage seems to be much more approachable young. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a beautiful day by the pool.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 10 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45.
— 2 months ago

Scott, Ted and 8 others liked this

Matthiasson

Michael Mara Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Paul J
9.5

Modest gold color. Stone fruit, lemongrass, and maybe a hint of vanilla on the nose. Same on the palate, which is well integrated. Medium depth and finish.

Give this a little decant, revising from 94-95.
— 2 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Paul and 5 others liked this

Michael David Winery

Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon

Laughing when I say this… the first glass tastes just as wonderful as the last glass. Often when we do tastings the last glass tastes good but later we wonder why in the world we liked it so much. This one is enjoyable from the very first sip. Regardless of the crazy label and name, it’s a great selection to enjoy with dinner and a partner. — 21 days ago

Tracy Bowen
with Tracy

Charles Smith

M.C.K. (Motor City Kitty) Syrah 2014

Juicy dark beery fruit, healthy spice, balanced. — a month ago

Michael David Winery

Freakshow Lodi Red Blend

Probably not technically as good as it tastes. This is a big, rich, flavorful wine with lots of dark fruit and high in alcohol at 15% which is most noticeable upon opening so let it breathe. I like to just sip it but also enhances food especially roasted red meats and strong cheeses with crusty bread. Wine snobs will undoubtedly be critical but so what! It’s just a good solid inexpensive wine that tastes good. Enjoy! — 2 months ago