W.H. Smith

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W.H. Smith 2005 Maritime Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

Editors' Choice

Price $52

The first thoughts on this wine are how young it is, and how much potential it shows. The immaturity lies in the primary fruit, acidic character, like a big gulp of fruity cola. But the wine’s awesome future is in its vast complexity and balance, and the way it dominates the palate and lasts and lasts. A blend of several vineyards, it’s high in acidity, with… — S.H. (5/1/2007)

points

W.H. Smith 2007 Purple Label Piedra Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)

Cellar Selection

Price $64

You don’t want to open this wine anytime soon. It’s tightly wound and immature, offering a blast of primary fruit flavors that haven’t yet integrated with the oak. It tastes almost sweet now, although it’s technically bone dry, with waves of black cherries, blackberries, mocha, anise liqueur and smoky oak vanillins, followed by a long, spicy finish. Hold until 2012… — S.H. (12/31/2009)

points

W.H. Smith 2009 Bill and Joan's Special Selection Maritime Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

Cellar Selection

Price $60

A gorgeous evocation of Pinot Noir. Pours pale in color and translucent, suggesting it’s not a heavy fruit bomb, and indeed it is not. Feels as light as a cloud, yet with intense flavors of red stone fruits, bacon and spices, and that feral, wild forest quality you get from the best Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs. Bone dry, but so sweet in fruit and cedar, with wonderful… — S.H. (12/31/2011)

points

W.H. Smith 2006 Piedra Hill Vineyard Purple Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)

Online Exclusive

Price $64

It’s not hard these days to get Cabernet to ripen to cherry-berry pie, currant and chocolaty richness. It is hard to squeeze that into a wonderfully crafted, classic structure, where the wine finishes perfectly dry. Bill Smith has accomplished all this in this wonderful, Bordeaux-esque wine. It’s extraordinarily delicious, and with those Howell Mountain tannins… — S.H. (2/1/2009)

points

W.H. Smith 2007 Maritime Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

Price $54

This has been a great bottling from W.H. Smith, and it is the most interesting and complex of the winery’s current releases. Very dry, its elegantly silky structure frames intricate flavors of baked cherry, cherry skin, red currant, root beer, licorice and cedar, with an elaboration of Asian spices and a sprinkle of cocoa. Really fascinates as it changes in the… — S.H. (2/1/2009)

points

W.H. Smith 2008 Bill and Joan's Special Selection Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $75

This big, young Pinot should have been held back before release, because it’s really tannic and primary now, making its future hard to evaluate. However, it seems a likely cellar candidate. It’s fresh in acids and clearly has a pedigree of terroir, showing mineral-infused raspberries, cherries, rhubarbs, wild strawberries, and pomegranates, accented with rich… — S.H. (3/1/2010)

points

W.H. Smith 2005 Purple Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)

Cellar Selection

Price $54

Bill Smith is better known for his Pinot Noirs, but he founded La Jota and knows a thing or two about Howell Mountain Cabs. This is a big, dry, tannic mountain wine, virtually undrinkable now for its hard astringency. However, it’s a fine cellar candidate. Brims with ripe blackberries and cherries that just need time. Should begin to open in 2008, and develop for… — S.H. (12/15/2007)

points

W.H. Smith 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)

Price $42

This is really an exquisite Cabernet. It shows the intensity and purity that Howell Mountains brings to wine, with a superb structure of fine, complex tannins and acidity. Flavorwise, the blackberries, black currants, cassis, blueberries and chocolate have an edge of raisins, but not too much, just enough for a spicy bite. Beautiful now and through 2015, in a… — S.H. (12/31/2009)

Most Reviewed Designations

Bill and Joan's Special Selection Bill and Joan's Special Selection Maritime Bronze Label Bronze Label Piedra Hill Vineyard Hellenthal Vineyard Marimar Estate Vineyard Maritime Maritime Ridge Purple Label Purple Label Piedra Hill Vineyard Umino Vineyard

Most Reviewed Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon Pinot Noir

2009 Monte Pinadillo Ciranza

Black fruit, raisin and minerally aromas combine to create a formidable…

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