Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California

Tasting Note: A Napa Cabernet with an abundance of well-integrated, summer fruit that delivers as a whole in your glass.

Deep-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of cassis, black currant, raspberry puree, blackberry, rhubarb and black cherry with hints of vanilla baking spice.

On the palate the dry, full-bodied cabernet has medium-plus-intensity, red-and-black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose supported my medium acidity and silky, well-integrated, medium-plus tannin.

The wine is even more characterful on the palate than the nose with complexity running along the entire length of the taste with more floral notes emerging on the mid-to-rear palate.

If you associate Napa Valley cabernet with fruit bombs, this is not that – it’s a restrained, more-calculated version of what you’re used to.

Bottle Note: Founded in 1971 at the top of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, Smith-Madrone is run by brothers Stuart and Charles Smith. The steep dry farmed vineyards are planted in vividly red and rocky volcanic Aiken stoney clay loam. Coupled with the cool mountain temperatures our grapes produce wines of intense flavor, structure and longevity, with a distinct personality. All our wines are estate grown and bottled.

This wine was submitted for review.