Smith-Madrone Riesling 2017, Napa Valley Spring Mountain District, California

The goal at Smith-Madrone is to make artisanal wines which are distinctive and are an expression of both the vintage and are wines which bring pleasure to the senses. All wines made entirely from the winery’s dry-farmed estate vineyards surrounding the winery on top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley. The vineyards sit at elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 feet, on steep slopes which range up to 35%. The soils are mostly deep-red Aiken Stoney Clay loam, part of the Aiken, Kidd, Forward complex of soils which are volcanic-based, well-drained and deep for mountain soils. 2017 vintage: Classic Riesling nose of honeysuckle, grapefruit and wet stone with just a hint of petrol binding everything together into a harmonious whole that couldn’t be anything other than Riesling. If anything, it’s even better on the palate. It has an impressive silky texture complemented by an equally impressive depth of flavor mid-palate. Lively and fruity and clean with intense varietal character. The acidity is integrating nicely, but the wine still exhibits a tasty crispness at the finish. It’s a lovely expression of a mountain grown Riesling