48% Cinsault 28% Syrah 24% Grenache — 2 months ago
R Stuart wine club
One of our favorites we've had from them!
Smooth, subtle fruit tones.
Went great with steak night and cheese night — 7 months ago
Smooth and easy. Enjoyed in Charlottesville VA — 10 months ago
Lovely wine! — a month ago
Dark ruby color with purple highlights. Aromas of black and blue fruit, violets, roasted meat, spices, wet stones and tobacco. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black raspberry, roasted herbs, black pepper and black olives. Long and savory finish. Complex and very “Northern Rhône-like.” Full bodied, lively and just the right amount of tannin. Excellent! — 2 months ago
A beautiful top shelf Margaret River Cabernet drinking well at 16 years of age. Deep Ruby in colour. You would never know it was that age from the colour. My 2nd last bottle. A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc. Trademark herbaceous notes with mulberry and spice. 2008 was a hot and dry vintage in Margaret River. Severe winds at flowering drastically reduced the crop to the lowest yet recorded - under 1 tonne per acre. Shelley Anne named after Stuart Watson’s wife. Stuart is the chief winemaker and one of the owners. — 9 months ago
After reading the story of this producer, I inspired to try it. Especially, at $59.99 for a quality Napa Cabernet. These two brother’s are true pioneers of the Napa Valley. They do their own thing. Don’t follow trends and are not aggressive with their bottle price, nor do they really wish to. More rare than common in today’s Napa Cabernet market. I have a lot of respect for that and Napa Pioneers.
This also drinks pretty well for a young Napa Cabernet. I was expecting bigger/bolder based on write up. Not that this won’t benefit from cellaring.
The fruits are nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & blueberry hues. I was expecting more teeth. Think it is showing the finesse & balance of most 21’s I’ve had. Dark spice, grilled meats, light black pepper, barrel dust, dry tobacco, leather, savory herbaceousnes, moist clays, dry crushed rocks, cola, flower bouquet of red, blue & purple fresh flowers, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and lands crushed rocks and touch of spice.
It will be interesting to see if this shows more in 5 years.
Photos of; Smith Madrone vineyards and brothers Stuart and Charles Smith — a month ago
Refreshing brut. Pinot and Chardonnay blend with slight oxidation. — 2 months ago
JKT
New one for me, good combination of earthiness, roundness and bite. — 25 days ago