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Beginning with our 1983 vintage of Riesling we boldly went where no other American winery had gone for the next 17 years; we changed our label from Johannisberg Riesling to the true and correct name, Riesling. White Riesling is wrong and redundant (when was the last time you had a red Riesling?). This is just one example of our commitment to this wonderful and often overlooked varietal.
Balance is one of the hallmarks of great winemaking.
With our Rieslings we strive for a balance not only
between sugar and acid, but for a balance between
two great continents--Europe as represented by Germany's
Rheingau and France's Alsace and America as represented
by us. We love the minerally middle of Alsatian Rieslings
but not their sharp finish; the Rheingau offers the
beautiful soft floral finish, but with too much sugar.
We try to make our Riesling in a decidedly American
style: a minerally middle palate with a soft floral
finish and just a hint of sweetness.
Our Smith-Madrone 2001 Riesling is just such a wine.
A fruity nose reminiscent of sliced apricots and peaches,
with a dry mineral-like middle and a long soft floral
finish. Not even releasedľand the wine has already
won the only gold medal awarded by this year's Los
Angeles County Fair for dry-style Rieslings.
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AGE OF VINES:
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30 years |
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APPELLATION:
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Napa Valley |
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SUB-APPELLATION:
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Spring Mountain District |
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FARMING:
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dry-farmed mountain
vineyards |
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VARIETAL CONTENT:
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100% Riesling |
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ALCOHOL:
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12.5% |
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TOTAL ACIDITY:
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0.70 grams/100ml |
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pH:
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3.15 |
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RESIDUAL SUGAR:
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0.7% |
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CASES:
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1,121 cases |
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WINEMAKERS & WINEGROWERS:
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CHARLES SMITH & STUART SMITH
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