Cook's Flat Reviews
Grape-Experiences, Cindy Rynning, July 5, 2020
A brilliant, balanced blend
2016 Cook's Flat
http://www.grape-experiences.com/2020/07/convictions-beliefs-wines-smith-madrone-vineyards-winery/A brilliant, balanced blend, this wine can be served at a star-studded dinner party or at relaxed backyard gathering with your favorite wine lovers. Stu Smith explained that they “have fun with this project. The name is an homage to George Cook, the first legal owner of the property the Smith family purchased in 1971, and indicates the 8-acre parcel (named Cook’s Flat) of the 200 acres purchased. The concept started with the 2007 vintage. We didn’t want to make big, bold California Cabernet. Instead, we wanted to make a wine to compete with First Growth Bordeaux. We only produce this wine when the vintage year is superior and each year the blend is different. The 2016 is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Cabernet Franc. We’ll release the wine when we want to….” Rich and full, I discovered intense aromas of dark and juicy plums, black cherries and hint of earth. On the creamy, textured palate, notes of blackberries, dark chocolate, currants, sweet tobacco, baking spices and slightest hint of green tea rested on a foundation of soft tannins and moderate acidity. The finish was exceptional. Stu suggested, “Cook’s Flat Reserve 2016 can age 15-20 years. It’s elegant, soft, sophisticated.” Only 130 cases of this wine were produced; my bottle was stamped 1352 of 1560.
Dallas Wine Chick, Melanie Ofenloch, July 5, 2020
Elegant and nuanced
2016 Cook's Flat
http://www.dallaswinechick.com/smith-madrone-humble-beginnings-unforgettable-wines/The Cook’s Flat Reserve represents the best barrels from the best lots and is made in certain vintages. It reflects the heritage of the first winery on the property — Cook’s Flat was the name used by locals for the vineyard planted by George Cook. This was elegant and nuanced with blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, tobacco, spice and earth. At $225, it is a special occasion wine, but worth it. In talking with Stu and tasting these wines, the word that comes to mind is authentic. As Stu put it, “Mother nature is our stamp and with her comes balance, complexity and elegance that reflects the terroir. Our goal is play in the dirt and make affordable wines that encourage discussion and make the world flow away.”
1WineDude, Joe Roberts, July 1, 2020
Long, savory, supple, even sexy, there are no rough edges on this nuanced, fabulous mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
2016 Cook's Flat
http://www.1winedude.com/wine-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-part-5-courage-of-convictions-with-smith-madrone/Cook’s Flat never really disappoints, and this latest release (with only just over 1,500 bottles produced) keeps right in line with tradition. Smith-Madrone’s top-of-the-line since 2007, “we set out to make the best wine that we could” and “put the cross-hairs on the First Growths [of Bordeaux],” Smith told us. This is meant to evoke a great Margaux, and it comes as damned close as any Napa Cab I’ve tried recently. Long, savory, supple, even sexy, there are no rough edges on this nuanced, fabulous mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Explosive despite its youth and tightness, this is the more focused, spicier, smokier, darker, and slightly deeper big brother to the Estate Cab. Nearly a week after the tasting, it was still drinking incredibly well from the bottle, suggesting an impressive aging curve ahead.
Gabe's View, Gabe Sasso, June 16, 2020
A joyous and hedonistic wine
2013 Cook's Flat
http://www.gabesview.com/blogposts/2020/6/16/smith-madrone-simply-napas-best-wineryThis is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) and Cabernet Franc (45%). Dark and spicy fruit aromas lead the charge here. Black cherry and plum flavors abound. Bits of kirsch liqueur and sweet dark chocolate drive the long and spice laden finish. This is a joyous and hedonistic wine, and like their other offerings is also well proportioned. Drinking Cook’s Flat Reserve brings to mind the term, Excess in Moderation. A mere 111 cases of this wine were bottled. I’d lay it down for awhile, but it’s also hard to resist now.
Decanter Magazine, Elin McCoy, February 2020
Tantalising aromas
2013 Cook's Flat
https://smithmadrone.com/news/download-decanter2020.html94 points: Only 194 cases of this Cabernet Franc-dominant blend were made. Black cherries, tobacco and herbs dominate the tantalising aromas, which spill out of the glass. Generous and open, it’s not as floral or dense as the 2016 and shows a kind of savoury, briary style. Unlike the Estate Cabernet, it’s aged in 100% new French oak.Drinking Window 2019 - 2038.
Advinetures, Allison & Chris Wallace, May 22, 2019
Ripe and polished
2013 Cook's Flat
https://advinetures.ca/blog/authentic-wines-personalities-smith-madrone/"Cook’s Flat” is what the locals used to call the 8 acre plot planted in 1972 and used to grow the grapes for this red blend. This vintage the cuvée was 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, with roughly equal parts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Many Napa proprietary blends or luxury cuvées are distinguished by their power. The Smiths, always marching to the beat of their own drum, have focused on elegance in this wine. More toward the black fruit end of the spectrum than their regular Cabernet, this wine showed great intensity without any heaviness. The tannins are medium+, but they are ripe and polished. A rich mouthfeel makes it a pleasure to drink now but Stu assured us this has a long future in the cellar. With such precise balance, we have no reason to doubt him.
TalkAVino, Anatoly Levine, December 31, 2019
Phenomenal
2013 Cook's Flat
https://talk-a-vino.com/2019/12/31/top-wines-of-2019/This might be how you spell “phenomenal”. This wine was a pure pleasure. Pure, hedonistic, unadulterated pleasure. This is the wine at the level of magic – you take a sip, you whisper “wow”, you quietly reflect on what is happening, immersing into the moment. Then you take another sip and repeat. Yes, magic.
Forbes, Michelle Williams, February 5, 2019
Words lack in describing this beautiful wine
2012 Cook's Flat
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellewilliams/2019/02/05/valentines-day-gift-guide-the-10-best-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignons-for-lovers/#491035a86485Seductive—dark fruit, highly herbaceous, baking spice, graphite, dark chocolate, and cedar; tension between power and restraint, balanced and layered with beautiful structure; words lack in describing this beautiful wine. Limited production, purchase direct from winery.
Fred Swan, August 11, 2018
Layered and profound
2012 Cook's Flat
This special, single-vineyard wine is a current release, having been given extra aging in both barrel and bottle. It’s a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 17% Merlot from vines planted in 1972 in a historic, eight-acre plot. Only 112 cases were made.
The Smith-Madrone Cook’s Flat Reserve is layered and profound with classic Bordeaux-blend hallmarks. The expressive nose offers black currant, iron, graphite, dried bay leaf, mint and aged wood. The palate is medium-plus in body building to full with air. A plethora of plush, fine-grained tannins provide structure and carry flavors though the very extended finish.
While the nose is predominantly savory, the palate is fruit-driven with rich black currant wrapped in dark chocolate and accented by cedar. With air, the palate becomes increasingly savory, emphasizing mineral and bay leaf characters. The wine’s ready to drink now, but will age and gain further complexity at least another 20 years.
GoodVitis, Aaron Menenberg, December 15, 2017
95 points: velvety lushness and more
2012 Cook's Flat
https://goodvitis.com/2017s-most-memorable-wines/...Here are my twelve most memorable wines from the past twelve months.
#2: 2012 Smith-Madrone Cook’s Flat Reserve. Stu Smith and his family are some of my favorite people in the wine industry, and among the most generous I’ve met. He’s also one of the best winemakers in a state known for attracting many of the best winemakers in the world. Cooks’ Flat is his reserve wine, which he makes during good vintages. It retails for $225. Given the region, that’s a steal for a wine of this quality and, in one of many manifestations, evidence of his generosity. I’m not a lover of most California wine, and I don’t get the California Cult Cab thing with its focus on fruit and tannin. Stu could care less whether his wines were considered “cult,” but it certainly tops the list of cabernets from the Sunshine State that I’ve had. The fact that any California cab made my most memorable wine list is personally surprising, but that it landed at #2? It’s just that good.
Tasting note: December 7, 2017 – This seems to me to be what Napa cab should be all about. It hits the palate with a velvety lushness, and is followed by waves of red, blue and black fruit that polish a core of dark minerals and Earth that broadens the mid palate and adds depth to the wine. The acid is towards the higher end of the Napa range, adding juiciness to the fruit and levity to the body. Unlike many California cabs, the tannins are well-kept and aren’t allowed to dry the palate and prematurely kill the finish. This is elegant and refined wine. Given the price of reserve wines from Napa, the Cook’s Flat is a downright steel. 95 points.
The Somm Journal, Fred Swan, December 2016-January 2017
Stellar
2009 Cook's Flat
http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/759645-dec-2016-jan-2017/26Stellar, loaded with ripe, juicy black currant and cherry, plus cocoa and dark mineral. It's nearly full-bodied with fine, chalky tannins.
Fred Swan, FredSwanwine.com, November 23, 2016
A true pioneer of Spring Mountain District wines and is still going strong
2009 Cook's Flat
http://www.fredswan.wine/2016/11/23/spring-mountain-wines-you-need-to-try/A powerhouse of black currant and chocolate which drinks very well now but will age for 15+ years.
Food & Spirits Magazine, Mark Gudgel, summer 2016
Some of the best wines I've had in recent memory
2009 Cook's Flat
http://fsmomaha.com/wp-content/uploads/FSM24_LR.pdfCharles probably put it best: “We make this wine because it makes us really happy.” It made me really happy, too. A blend of 64% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Cab Franc, and 14% Merlot, this wine gets the best of everything during the winemaking process, and you’re sure to love it the next time you’re splurging.
NapaFoodandVine, August 16, 2016
One of those special bottles
2009 Cook's Flat
http://napafoodandvine.com/2016/08/16/smith-madrone-winery-and-vineyards-tasting-notes-post-100/The 2009 Cooks Flat Reserve is one of those special bottles of wine you don’t drink every day. Priced at $200, per bottle this beauty is really what you would hope for in a mature Cab. Rich berries on the nose and palate, baking spices, weighty and rich in the mouth. We both loved this wine. It will continue to age beautifully for at least 10 years if not more. I would love the opportunity to taste it then. I think that this is one of my favorite quality Cabs I have experienced. It is a wine to be savored and experienced rather than simply consumed.
Susan Spinello, Live Left, July 12, 2016
Drinking fabulously right now
2010 Cook's Flat
http://www.liveleft.com/napa-and-sonoma/Highly allocated 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc reserve wine that displays generous dark fruit, cassis and tobacco leaf. It has solid tannins and is exceptionally poised to lay down for another 10 plus years. But this wine is drinking fabulously right now.
There is something unique about the lay of the land and the spacing of the vines, something that is sought after, but can only be achieved by authentic farmers and longevity in the business. Smith-Madrone captures that and more, as evidenced by their superior wines and highly sought after Cook's Flat Reserve. Charlie revved up his 4 wheeler high-speed golf cart and took us around the property with Curly close behind...for a while. There is a unique 8 acre block of vines known as Cook's Flat (named after George Cook, the first owner of the property) where a small production of the best of the best mountain fruit is grown. Cook's Flat was replanted in 1972 and the result is a very special Cabernet Reserve that will only be crafted in small batches and only in the best years. Each Cook's Flat Reserve bottle is wrapped in tissue which has been printed with a copy of the U.S. Land Office Patent granted to George Cook and signed by President Chester Arthur in 1885. The original is on display at the winery.
Susan Spinello, LiveLeft, July 12, 2016
Pure gold
2009 Cook's Flat
http://www.liveleft.com/napa-and-sonoma/Pure gold. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot, it sees 18 months in new French white oak, and is layer upon layer of dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, cocoa, espresso and baking spice. It's more fruit-forward, but exceptionally integrated, and can lay down another 20 years, but I'm not going to chance it.
There is something unique about the lay of the land and the spacing of the vines, something that is sought after, but can only be achieved by authentic farmers and longevity in the business. Smith-Madrone captures that and more, as evidenced by their superior wines and highly sought after Cook's Flat Reserve. Charlie revved up his 4 wheeler high-speed golf cart and took us around the property with Curly close behind...for a while. There is a unique 8 acre block of vines known as Cook's Flat (named after George Cook, the first owner of the property) where a small production of the best of the best mountain fruit is grown. Cook's Flat was replanted in 1972 and the result is a very special Cabernet Reserve that will only be crafted in small batches and only in the best years. Each Cook's Flat Reserve bottle is wrapped in tissue which has been printed with a copy of the U.S. Land Office Patent granted to George Cook and signed by President Chester Arthur in 1885. The original is on display at the winery.
PullThatCork, Nancy and Peter Brazil, July 18, 2016
Elegant, complex
2009 Cook's Flat
http://pullthatcork.com/2016/smith-madrone/An elegant, complex and evolved wine that is still bright and youthful. Complex dark fruit and cedar aromas are followed with dark plum and red fruit flavors. Hints of cedar and pencil shavings add complexity. Tannins are silky smooth and the finish is very long. Delicious.
The Daily Meal, Gabe Sasso, November 16, 2015
One of ten best Cabernets in America
2009 Cook's Flat
http://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/10-best-cabernets-america-slideshow/slide-10Quite simply one of the very best wineries in the world. Everything they do is top shelf. A few years ago they released the first vintage of this reserve wine, the first in their history. No surprise, brothers Stu and Charlie Smith hit it out of the park, but that’s what they’ve been doing for over 40 years. While it’s labeled as a proprietary blend, it’s composed of 75 percent cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc, so legally it’s a cabernet sauvignon. Bits of toast and dark fruit dot the expressive nose. Blackberry, cherry, and more fill the palate, which shows off a bit more fruit-forward than their other red. The flavors here are layered and complex. Dark dusty cocoa, continued cherry, and a hint of espresso are all present on the finish. Cooks Flat Reserve is going to age well for at least 20 years, but if you’re impatient, pair with a standing rib roast this Christmas for a glorious experience.
Napa Valley Then & Now by Kelli A. White
A very lovely bottle of wine
2007 Cook's Flat
http://www.napavalleythenandnow.com/66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc. Somewhat reticent aromas of pine, black cherry, black olive, sarsaparilla and graphite form the nose. The palate is rich and deep with great concentration and heft. A fine acidity weaves through the fruit, adding energy. A very lovely bottle of wine.
Napa Valley Then & Now by Kelli A. White
Great
2010 Cook's Flat
http://www.napavalleythenandnow.com/75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc. Though more modern than is typical for Smith-Madrone, this is a very successful wine that has preserved the signature poise and balance of the house. The nose offers rich cassis, tobacco leaf, wet slate, charcoal and a kiss of oak. Muscular and fairly broad-shouldered, with concentrated dark fruit, polished (though abundant) tannins, and a firm acidity. Great.
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Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
P.O. Box 451/ 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574
Telephone: 707.963.2283
