One whiff of this and I knew I was in old-school territory. Creamy mountain conifer, madrone and eucalyptus. Loamy red soil and mint. An apple core–browning–and worn gloves in the cab of a truck unfit for town many years ago. Deep cherry and pomegranate roll off in clouds of tapenade and horse-hair with a clear, steely breeze these mountain appellations pack in so effortlessly. Fresh and alive, I nailed it at 14-2, the bright brilliance of such numbers complementing and caressing the rich ripe underpinnings of a wine mind-bogglingly good, palate-stimulating, and effortless to drink at the same time. Spring Mountain–tiny as it is–represents AGAIN… as I have found them to do over and over.
2013 SMITH-MADRONE Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain Napa Valley 14.2
Stephen McConnell 