Michael Smith
Smith Madrone
Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Peter Michael Winery
Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir 2023
[Tasted on May 25, 2025 at The Optimist in Nashville with Jay]
Wine is from Pisoni Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. Cherry, blackberry and red plum fruit, with baking spices, caramel and violets. — a month ago
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Pessac-Léognan Blanc White Bordeaux Blend 2005
Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 Blanc pours a deep straw color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart orchard fruit: grapefruit, Meyer lemon, verbena, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, some pyrazines, a touch grassy, and warm wet rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the fruit comes across a touch more round (vintage playing role) but the acid is definitely giving more than adequate lift. The finish is long. The texture is viscous. Drink now through 2035. — 19 days ago
Peter Michael Winery
Au Paradis Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
2013 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Medium body. Leaning heavily towards a feminine-styled Cabernet and has dropped nearly all of the braggadocio of youth. As mentioned with another reviewer @Jay Kline not even close to being as exciting as the producer’s Les Pavots bottling and fairly one-dimensional. More than a bit disappointing given the initial acclaim. 05.29.25. — a month ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
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 — 12 days ago