Smith-Madrone -- Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Up to the usual awesome standard...

Brothers Stu and Charlie Smith planted their cabernet sauvignon vines in 1972, high atop Spring Mountain, 1,900 feet above Napa Valley and west of the town of St. Helena. They dry-farm — that means no irrigation — the 38 acres of vines that grow out of the volcano-based rocky soil; the hillsides are so steep that some areas slope at a perilous 35 degree pitch. The Smiths produce mainly cabernet sauvignon wines, with lesser amounts of riesling and chardonnay and a recently added rosé, and they don't make too damned much of any of it, to the regret of their fans, of whom I am one, as you may remember from previous reviews.