Always impressive
2021 Riesling
We understand that Riesling is a hard sell to people at all ends of the wine spectrum — “It’s too sweet!” — but there are beautiful dry Rieslings out there with a delicacy that everyone really needs to experience more often. The always impressive Smith-Madrone Riesling — its inaugural vintage was 1977 — is beautiful and quite ephemeral, with a touch of herbs and waxy carambola peel and some salinity. Dottie compared it to a sea breeze. It would be great with pork or chicken, and very romantic on its own, too.
Elegant and nicely balanced
2021 Riesling
Pale lemon in color. Strong nose of apples, lemons, limes, minerals and light diesel notes. Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity. Dry on the palate with a touch of RS to balance it out. Showing citrus, apples, pears, light earth, light diesel, limes, light grapefruits herbs and sea salt. Tangy finish with limes and herbs. This 4 year old Riesling from Spring Mountain is starting to drink nicely now, but needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Spicy and entertaining. I’ve had a few vintages of this wine, and so far the 2018 vintage is my favorite one. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and interesting. Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Crisp and better when not too cold.
One of the finest and most consistent domestic rieslings in our opinion
2021 Riesling
Honeysuckle, lime, crushed rock, green mango, peach, petrol, and green apple. Nice weight on the palate, rich fruit with a tinge of spice before the waves of sharp acidity and a mineral driven finish. This Riesling’s beauty really shines at a warmer temperature around 60 degrees, so make sure to not chill it too far in the fridge or ice bucket. While approachable early, some decant really lets the wine expand beautifully. Always a treat, one of the finest and most consistent domestic rieslings in our opinion.
Like a Lamborghini Revuelto...quality, elegance, craftsmanship
2021 Riesling
This picture of a Lamborghini Revuelto may seem a bit off to start a wine story, yet the quality, elegance, craftmanship and rarity of this car is tantamount to the 2021 Smith-Madrone Riesling. And as a bonus the wine cost $40/bottle as opposed to a starting cost of $612,858!
In the California Dept of Food & Agriculture Grape Crush white wine harvest in 2024 was 1,401,048 tons. The top four wines by tonnage were Chardonnay, French Colombard, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc representing 80% of the harvest tonnage. Riesling did not show up as a separate category in 2024! Why? Perhaps it is the “bum rap” that Riesling wines are “sweet”? This is the furthest from the truth with Smith-Madrone with residual sugar coming in at .021%.
The 2021 Riesling is extremely aromatic with floral notes and green apple on the nose. The aromatics were so intense they hit the olfactory senses after the cork was popped, and I was carrying the bottle to the table! A deeper golden yellow color than previous vintages with medium viscosity. On the palate, hints of lemon zest, mixed with stone fruits (white peach and apricots) tame the secondary flavors of lime citrus. A modicum of beeswax making it extremely mouth filling can be found. On the finish, the minerality comes through strong and pure from either the volcanic soil, or sandstone, limestone or the general rocky soil found on the property. The minerality and acidity is counterbalanced with the delicious fruit bounty. Coming in at 13.2% alcohol, Smith-Madrone Vineyards produced 1,258 cases. The current release is their 2021 and listed on their website for $40/bottle.
This vintage will make my annual Best Wines Tasted during the calendar year. This list is reserved for approximately 2-3% of the roughly 1800 wines tasted annually. It should be noted that Smith-Madrone Riesling has made this list for the last five years with various vintages!
Duck, Pork, Bacon, Chicken, Shrimp, and Crab are suggested foods for Riesling. Previously the 2019 vintage of Riesling was paired with one of my favorite dishes, chicken Pad Thai. This evening the dish was lemon garlic and shrimp pasta. It was prepared with fettuccine pasta and jumbo shrimp. Ingredients included olive oil, unsalted butter, minced garlic, Himalayan sea salt, black pepper, dried oregano, baby spinach, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley and lemon juice. The meal was accompanied by a fresh Cesar salad.
Rather than add typical red chili flakes, substituted Flatiron Pepper Company Calabrian Chile Pepper. Calabrian chile peppers are from Calabria, Italy and are vibrant and spicy. Known for being moderately spicy and yet bright and with a fruit undertone. Calabrian chiles are often preserved in oil which tends to mellow out their heat a bit, adding a noted “kick” without overwhelming the dish. This was the first time using this sample packet with seafood and now I am convinced of the value of these flavorful chile flakes. These Chile flakes come from New Mexico and are spelled with an “e”! Riesling, especially a dry one, is excellent with light and just slightly spicy pasta. The wine with its acidity and fruit, both complement and counterbalance the natural sweetness of the shrimp and cut through the butter and garlic. The acidity in the Riesling brightens the meal and refreshes the palate. The fruit notes (lemon, lime, stone fruits) enhance the flavors of the shrimp. The fruits also provided a refreshing and noted contrast with the red pepper flakes. This was an excellent food and wine pairing this evening!
The most reliable expression of this particular grape variety produced in Napa....delicious....
2021 Riesling
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of honeysuckle, beeswax, and mandarin orange peel. In the mouth, Asian pear, mandarin zest, and pomelo pith flavors have a stony, wet chalkboard quality as excellent acidity puckers the cheeks and makes the saliva flow. Perfectly dry, with just a hint of paraffin and herbs.
Brothers Charlie and Stu Smith have been making this bottling of Riesling for decades, and it is the most reliable expression of this particular grape variety produced in Napa. Fully dry, and brimming with citrus and asian pear flavors, it’s delicious, and ages very well.
One of the most exemplary Rieslings produced in California today
2021 Riesling
One of the most exemplary Rieslings produced in California today
Outstanding
2021 Riesling
93 points: Sourced from the Spring Mountain District, the outstanding 2021 Smith-Madrone Riesling shows serious texture, weight and nerve from this warmer vintage. Ripe peach and kerosene flavors collide with green apples and copious minerals on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2033.
LIvely, zesty, tangy and sweet-tart
2021 Riesling
93 points: Lively, zesty, tangy and sweet-tart with notes of green apple candy, mango nectar, salted caramel and cream roll.
One of, if not the best, value wines in all of Napa....there might not be a better domestic Riesling produced
2019 Riesling
In my opinion this is one of, if not the best, value wines in all of Napa. In a region synonymous with $50+ Cabernets is this gorgeous, structured, ageworthy dry Riesling. But is it out of place? No, back in the 1960s and 70s Riesling was one of the most planted grapes in California. And for good reason. The grape has a super high natural acidity which is necessary to make balanced wines in the hot and dry climate of Napa Valley. Smith Madrone planted this Riesling in the 70s, and has continued to farm and produce the wine despite the falling popularity and reputation of Riesling amongst American consumers. There might not be a better domestic Riesling produced.
Tasting Notes: Lemon, grapefruit, petrol 🍋🍊⛽
Song Pairing: There’d Better Be a Mirrorball by Arctic Monkeys
Pure distinct sharp Riesling with decades to go...the best New World version
2019 Riesling
A whiff of glorious petrol, then lychee and green apple but with strudel polishing--cinnamon and butter and nutmeg--this is no pumpkin spice conglomeration though, it is pure, distinct, sharp Riesling barely showing its age and with decades to go. This well may be the greatest white varietal, and this is arguably the best New World version.
A pure delight
2019 Riesling
Light golden. Petrol mixed with honey and honeysuckle, a pure aromatherapy in the glass for a Riesling lover. Crisp, bright, honey with lemon in perfect harmony, clean and crisp finish with lots of energy.
A pure delight.Stu Smith and his brother, Charlie, founded the winery in 1971 in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. When Stu was buying a property overflowing with trees, he was told that he was making the mistake of his life. But the best wines are born out of conviction - add perseverance, gumption, hard work, ingenuity, and imagination - just get all of these ingredients, and you might also be able to make some beautiful wines.
Dry, racy, vintage after vintage, never ceases to impress
2019 Riesling
We’re ALL in our white wine era. From crisp patio sippers to textural curveballs, here are bottles you need to try.
Mineral-Driven & Complex: These wines are quiet powerhouses — saline, stony, age-worthy, and built to beguile.
From arguably one of the finest producers of domestic Riesling comes this dry, racy selection that, vintage after vintage, never ceases to impress. Grown on high-elevation estate vineyards in Napa’s Spring Mountain District, this Riesling’s got Meyer lemon, orange blossom, and mountain minerals that all gracefully collide in a wine with serious lift and longevity.
A classic, all the hallmarks and characteristics of a German or Alsatian Riesling
2019 Riesling
The 2019 Estate Riesling is a classic – it has all the hallmarks and characteristics of a German or Alsatian Riesling – golden hued, citrus and stone fruited, mouth-watering acidity, and maybe a hint of honey and petrol. This is a full-bodied creamy wine, and I can’t put my glass down. I am now in search of charcuterie of any kind to pair and contrast.
The estate vineyards are farmed at high elevation in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. The vineyards must be in an ideal fruiting zone for this variety, which would account for the minerality and acidity balance. My take is that this is an excellent example of what a Napa riesling can be – fruit and acid still intact after 6 years of aging.
The wine is drinking just right at this moment, but I’m intrigued by the tech notes that suggest holding up to 2039. Should I make it until then, this is a wine I’d love to be sipping.
Minerality and acidity are jovial and enticing
2019 Riesling
The 2019 Riesling is extremely aromatic with floral notes and green apples on the nose. A more golden yellow color than the previous vintage with medium viscosity. On the palate, hints of lemon zest, mixed with stone fruits (white peach and apricots) tame the lime citrus. A modicum of beeswax makes it extremely mouth filling. On the finish, the minerality comes through strong and pure from either the volcanic soil, or sandstone, limestone or the general rocky soil found on the property. The minerality and acidity are jovial and enticing with a semi-sweet crescendo.
The Food and Wine Pairing: Paired with three dishes of Chinese food: honey walnut prawns, combination fried rice and lemon chicken. The prawns and chicken had a sweet character and the Riesling being dry provided a beautiful contrast for this meal.
The 2018 Smith-Madrone Riesling had made the Best Wines tasted in 2023 and the 2019 made my Best Wines tasted in 2024 and again will in 2025. We stock this wine specifically for certain food and wine pairings.
All the energy is steadfast fruit
2019 Riesling
This wine smells of orchard hope. Pink lady apples and white nectarines. Things to be harvested–who knows what is to come. It also smells of knowledge–steeliness, resolve. A wine person may put it under the umbrella of minerality. In general, I’d call it a life choice that won’t stop exciting. Zip, energy, currents of electricity carry it across the palate, but under all the energy is steadfast fruit. Who could tire of it? Not I.
If you’re looking for a dry California Riesling that reflects both a singular mountain site and an unwavering commitment to excellence, look no further than Smith-Madrone’s!
2016 Riesling
Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, fascinating story, or the sheer delight it brings to the glass. This week’s feature: the 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling, a wine that stands apart for all the right reasons. In a region famed for bold Cabernet and opulent Chardonnay, this mountain-grown Riesling is a rare and radiant outlier—a vivid testament to both site and stewardship. The winery produces five estate wines, each a direct reflection of its mountain terroir:
Riesling: A vivid expression of Spring Mountain—zippy, mineral-driven, and pure
Chardonnay: Rich yet fresh, a harmonious balance of power and precision.
Rosé: A playful blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, crisp and full of character.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep and structured, blended with touches of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Cabernet Franc: A new and exciting addition to their lineup.
Cook’s Flat Reserve: A limited-production flagship, crafted only in exceptional vintages.
Smith-Madrone was founded with a clear vision: to craft exceptional Riesling, capitalizing on its rugged mountain site and steep, well-drained slopes. Stu Smith has often likened marketing Riesling to a Sisyphean task. True to that spirit of perseverance, in 1983, Smith-Madrone became trailblazers by changing their wine label from “Johannisberg Riesling” to simply “Riesling,” standing firm against regulatory resistance. For 17 years, they were the only American winery to make this bold move, ultimately prevailing in their quest to streamline the name. Their Riesling is crafted from 100% estate-grown fruit planted in 1972, with most vines still thriving on their original rootstock—a rare and remarkable testament to tradition and terroir in a region where Riesling is a true rarity.
Tasting note: 92 points: Pale golden yellow with enticing aromas of dried apricot, honey, beeswax, petrol, and Key lime zest. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and dry with zesty mouthwatering acidity and flavors of green apple, white peach, green melon, Key lime, a hint of starfruit, and a gentle thread of honey. The finish is long, and layered. If you’re looking for a dry California Riesling that reflects both a singular mountain site and an unwavering commitment to excellence, look no further than Smith-Madrone’s!
Excellent example of what a Napa riesling can be
2019 Riesling
This is a classic. It has all the hallmarks and characteristics of a German or Alsatian Riesling – golden hued, citrus and stone fruited, mouth-watering acidity, and maybe a hint of honey and petrol. This is a full-bodied creamy wine, and I can’t put my glass down. I am now in search of charcuterie of any kind to pair and contrast. The estate vineyards are farmed at high elevation in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. The vineyards must be in an ideal fruiting zone for this variety, which would account for the minerality and acidity balance. My take is that this is an excellent example of what a Napa riesling can be – fruit and acid still intact after 6 years of aging. The wine is drinking just right at this moment, but I’m intrigued by the tech notes that suggest holding up to 2039. Should I make it until then, this is a wine I’d love to be sipping.
Gorgeous texture and mouthwatering acidity
2019 Riesling
Can you build a great wine cellar using only American bottles?....Can you fill a good, wide-ranging wine cellar without importing a thing? You can get pretty close. US regions have unique terroirs as well....The first vintage of this ageworthy white made at the estate on Spring Mountain made its debut in 1977. This one has a citrus and mineral purity with gorgeous texture and mouthwatering acidity.
Another fabulous wine from Smith-Madrone
2019 Riesling
94 points: Drinking Window 2025 - 2030. The 2019 Riesling is another fabulous wine from Smith-Madrone. It offers tons of varietal character wedded to mountain structure. Lime, dried flowers, chamomile, orchard fruit, spice and jasmine all race across the palate. I especially admire the precision here. The finish is long and fresh.
Yowza. Outstanding.
2019 Riesling
96 points. Outstanding. Believe it or not, the 2019 Riesling is the current release from Smith-Madrone. Think about that for a moment; while it is certainly common to see a red wine that has 2-3 years on it, this has six and is a white. Why do I mention that? It’s fairly simple. Stu and Charlie Smith don’t really care about what others do or, worse still, what they might think–they are not going to adapt their winemaking, marketing, or business strategies unless it benefits the wine. Case in point. While this wine is six years old, other than a bit of color (I would call it about halfway between straw and yellow), this wine belies its age. Fresh, fruity, and even exuberant, this Napa Riesling makes even the most casual wino wonder why there isn’t more of the variety in this country’s most renowned region. Rich, racy, and refined, this wine starts with plenty of petrol and pear on the nose along with some kiwi, lemon rind, and minerality. The palate is quite tart initially, close to bracing, but it settles down quickly and all that fruit comes to the fore. Holy cow. By the finish, the wine has come into near-perfect balance and the harmony is glorious. Yes, this is fantastic, but it also could use some time, even a lot of time. Don’t get me wrong, this is fabulous now, but a grain of restraint would pay off as soon as 3-5 years out, or as much as 20 or more. Yowza.
At 6 this thing is just beginning to shine, beauty apparent
2019 Riesling
The petrol hits you first. As it should. Don't like petrol in your Riesling? Unfollow me. Then the clairvoyant cellar floor of petrichor muddled with spicy apple and plum. Gracefully chalky while expressive in sharp terms, a finish going passion fruit and acidic blueberry for ever and ever through tannins dirty and wild, prompted with ash and cigar-tinged briar and herbaceousness. Drink it at 55-60° because seriously chilled you lose EVERYTHING and it just becomes another Pinot grigio cold white wine, shutting down all receptors indicting the true beauty contained. At 6, this thing is just beginning to shine, still harsh and young, beauty apparent, but wait for a bit of tertiary polish. This is a visceral wine, an intellectual wine, not a single issue contained, something which should be regularly trotted out at 100 points, but it won’t, because people don't get it. But you do.
Good enough to put the category on notice....best Riesling I've sipped in seasons...no contest
2019 Riesling
You know that rare, almost scandalous thrill when someone who’s supposed to play it safe just throws down a performance so electric it resets the whole damn game? That’s the 2019 Smith-Madrone Riesling.
In a Napa world obsessed with flexing Cab muscle, this Riesling hits like a whispered secret — cooler, hotter, and way more interesting. From the heights of Spring Mountain, where the air is thin and the vines are thick with attitude, Smith-Madrone’s latest offering isn’t just “good for a Napa Riesling” — it’s good enough to put the entire category on notice. This is crisp green apple and wet stone foreplay, followed by a citrus-soaked kiss that somehow manages to feel both pure and wicked.
Best Riesling I’ve sipped in seasons. No contest. Like getting a private invite to Dua Lipa’s afterparty when everyone else is still lined up at the velvet rope. She’s reinventing pop glamor with effortless cool — and that’s exactly what Smith-Madrone is doing for Napa Riesling.
Sip it slow, sip it scandalous. Sip it with someone who knows how to get into a little weekend trouble.
This wine didn’t come to behave. It came to steal your Friday night.Wine X Sez: XXX— and that’s me pretending to be modest.
Rich, concentrated, yet racy, vibrant Riesling
2019 Riesling
91 points: Medium gold-hued, with a bright, juicy, off-dry style, the 2019 Riesling offers terrific aromatics of honeyed citrus, mint, and lychee nut. Nicely balanced and medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a great finish, it's a rich, concentrated, yet racy, vibrant Riesling.
Lovely...tangy acidity...long finish
2019 Riesling
Last summer, Gabe and I moved to New York City full-time. Lots of things factored into our decision: his family is local, mine just 90 minutes away; we have a fantastic group of friends here; and, well, it’s the Big Apple, there's no place in the world quite like it. Eight months in, we’re still convinced we made the right decision. Some days my body wants to argue the point. After two decades in South Florida, this winter (the chilliest in years) has hit me hard, mentally and physically. Apparently, I’m now a snowflake who can’t hack the cold. Luckily there are remedies to brighten my spirit and warm my bones. The lovely Riesling wines from Smith-Madrone in Napa Valley are a tonic in any season. Summer or winter, the aromas and flavors of orange, lime, pineapple, and white flowers bring good cheer. And they are always wonderful partners with whatever’s on the dinner table.
A few nights ago, as I heard the freezing rain pelt my windows, I knew I needed to create summer in my kitchen. Then I remembered a recent post written by my friend Jane Niemeyer at Always Ravenous. Her own case of the winter doldrums led to the creation of a super-fresh and flavorful lunch salad. One I wanted to eat immediately! Jane’s creativity inspired me to follow suit. I had fresh swordfish filets in the fridge, as well as the fixings for a romaine salad with fresh oranges and walnuts. And damned if I didn’t have a bottle of the perfect wine as well!
2019 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Riesling
Color: Bright lemon
Aromas: Orange, lime, and lemon; a hint of petrol, orange blossom, honey. More pronounced as it warms in the glass. Smells like a tropical garden, somewhere I want to be right now.
Palate: Medium-bodied with tangy acidity; flavors of pineapple, green apple, white grapefruit. Long finish with notes of honey and orange.
Pairing: Grilled swordfish and romaine salad dressed with fresh oranges, walnuts, and feta.
Everything on the table channeled warmer weather. In fact, the swordfish and oranges let me imagine I was dining on the beach in Sicily. The Riesling co-signed that notion, doubling down on the fresh orange notes. One of my favorite pairings in a while, this meal transported me back to warm weather, balmy breezes, and utter contentment.
Thank you, Smith-Madrone, for a welcome winter escape!
Full, bold, tangy and nearly dry
2019 Riesling
Full, bold, tangy and nearly dry with notes of lemon, green apple, nectarine, banana bread, crystallized ginger and honeysuckle.