Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain Chardonnay 2019

Smith-Madrone are one of the last true vanguards of 'Old Napa.' Founded in 1978 and run to this day by brothers Stu and Charles Smith, their estate high up on Spring Mountain is a callback to the days of California wine before the arrival of tech billionaires. Long-term champions of sustainable agriculture, the duo continue to produce wine in much the same way they always have. Their Chardonnay is a simply breathtaking white wine, far removed from the 'buttery' stereotype and alive with citrus fruit flavours and electrifying acidity. Expect bright notes of orange blossoms, white peach, and lemon curd alongside a distinct minerality and touches of toasted nut. Wonderful on its own, this Chardonnay has more than enough body to make it a suitable pairing companion with any manner of cuisine. 

95/100 - The Smith-Madrone Chardonnay over-delivers again with the 2019 bottling. Rich, showy aromas of honeyed pear, candied ginger and a rich lemon cream eschew oak for purity of fruit. The palate is mouthwatering in its depth of flavour and flashes complexity and refinement. Rich lemon curd, beeswax and lanolin are accented against notes of nutmeg, cardamom pod and petrichor. It is gorgeous in its depth yet with ample elegance and finesse. A joyous wine that promises to develop further complexity with bottle age. This is one of the finest Napa wines in existence for [its price]. - Clive Pursehouse, Decanter

90/100 - Barrel-fermented and aged nine months in 55% new French oak, the 2019 Chardonnay features scents of toasted hazelnut, baking spices and lemon curd. Despite being medium to full-bodied, it comes across as rather tight and linear, with a crisp spine of bright, citrusy acids that run from front to back of the palate, lingering refreshingly on the finish. - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate