A Saturday in Napa Valley in pictures and tasting notes

Last weekend I got away from the Central Coast for a couple of days, visiting Napa Valley and the Russian River Valley area in Sonoma Co. 

Saturday found me in Napa Valley tasting wine with Charles Smith at Smith Madrone in the Spring Mountain AVA; at Corison Winery hosted by Hardy Wallace; and then on to the Envy Winery tasting room in Calistoga to taste new releases from Mike Smith's Myriad Cellars as well as several of his Carter Cellars 2010 reds.

Smith Madrone

It was a nice mix of old-school Napa wines at Smith Madrone and Corison (no reds newer than 2006 tasted in either), and silky and voluptuous modern Cabernet from the Mike Smith wines (mostly 2010's). I enjoyed all three stops- very different experiences and wines that really showcased the diversity and personal experience that can be found in Napa Valley if you dig beneath the surface.

Smith Madrone is completely old school mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with burly brawny savory flavors, black fruit and massive structure. Their Chardonnay is structured as well with green stone fruit and acid along with brisk spice. The Riesling is a beautiful thing as well. It's an old winery structure with a workshop-like tasting area in the winery, surrounded by their mountain-top vineyards set among century-old olive trees.

At Corison you taste in the cellar and walk out into the Kronos estate vineyard, a phylloxera-surviving vineyard predating the massive replantings of Napa Cab in the early 90's (40+ year old vines). The Cabs are ageworthy, balanced and elegant.

Corison Kronos Vineyard- St. Helena

Old-Vine Cab at Kronos

The Mike Smith wines of Myriad and Carter are of the modern variety, showing balanced and integrated flavors set among creamy silky structures. The best of which showed emerging savory notes that should fill out with the fruit in time.

Tasting Myriad and Carter (Carter in half-bottles)

Below are my favorite wines from the day (click the link for price and tech info)-

Smith Madrone 2009 Chardonnay Estate Bottled, Napa Valley- Spring Mountain-

Melon, tropical with light floral, lees and toast accents. Crisp and lively on the palate with good balance and rich depth along a flourishing finish. Very good.

Smith Madrone 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled, Napa Valley- Spring Mountain-

The bouquet is stacked like bricks and mortar- cassis, slate, plum, lavender and cherry. On the palate the savory leathery cedar shows around tight fruit. Firm round tannin and touches of mineral on the finish. The stuffing is there. Good length. Enjoyed tasting but won't touch this for some time.

Smith Madrone 2011 Riesling Estate Bottled, Napa Valley- Spring Mountain-

Aromas of kiwi, orange, slate and white flowers. Crisp and brisk palate, well balanced with bright fruit and depth. Long finish. Excellent.

Corison 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley-

Big aromas of cassis, plum, blueberry, vanilla, cedar and olive. Black currant and cassis on the palate with rocky mineral and blue floral accents. Just traces of oak. Elegant feel and weight. Fine/firm tannin and a full finish filled with floral fruit and dried herb notes. Excellent.

Corison 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley- 

Cedar & leather, cassis, kirsch, licorice and blueberry nose- nice complexity. The palate begins with melted mineral notes ushering in blueberry and black cherry. Tea leaf, black olive and cedar depth. Layered and balanced and complex. Fine tannins holding firm, with a layered full finish. Outstanding.

Corison 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard, Napa Valley- 

Aromas of cassis, leather, violet and blueberry. Begins with high-toned blue fruit and moves to black cherry, tea, olive and cedar. Medium weight and polished on the palate. Fine tannins and a full finish. Excellent. 

Myriad 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley- 

A bit tight on the nose at first, it comes on with graphite, cassis and tobacco leaf. Layered flavors on the palate- creme de cassis, tea, leather, tobacco, blueberry, blackberry and spice. Full bodied and velvety in feel and tannin. Full finish with notes of red fruit. Very nice.

Myriad 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard, Napa Valley- St. Helena-

Aromas of tobacco leaf, cedar, spice, cassis and black currant. Pretty notes of mint, clove, red currant and mineral on the palate. Integrated oak. Velvety and polished. Tannins are firm. Spice, melted rock and red fruit on the finish. Good depth and length. Excellent.

Carter Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard The O.G.- Oakville-

Subtle nose of tea, clove, red currant and anise. Layered primary anise, spice, cola and plum on the palate with ashy earth, cocoa, vanilla and espresso depth. Concentrated and gliding through the palate with silky fine tannin, firm with rock and red fruit on a long finish. Very nice.