1999 Silhouette
Varietals
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.5% by volume
Flavor Profile
Silhouette is always an age-worthy white wine, and will gain complexity over the next 5-10 years.
- Vineyard Notes
100% from the Napa side of Carneros: 70% Merryvale Stanly Ranch Estate, 30% Hyde Vineyard
- From International Wine Cellar: "Cool aromas of crystallized...
“… yellow plum, lemon ice and tarragon. Stylish and laid-back, with rather delicate bitter orange flavor complicated by subtle oak spice. A nicely layered, sharply delineated wine with bright acids and very good length.” – Stephen Tanzer [90 POINTS]
- From Wine & Spirits: ""This pale golden wine...
“… starts off four-square and then gains elegance and depth with air. It develops from a solid line of frisky apple and pear flavor that keeps juicing up in the finish. The fruit seems to open out of the wine’s firmness, building to a balance of rich toastiness and firm peach ripeness. It’s a style that will generously repay an investment in age.” – Joshua Greene [92 POINTS]
- From Wine Enthusiast: "“Pulls out all the stops...
“… to create a big, massively complex wine. Despite the flamboyant tropical fruit flavors and rich spiciness supplied by oak, the wine never loses control of itself. It’s a tame lion. Fills the mouth with creamy flavors and sensations that roll on and on. The finish returns to the spicy-fruity theme with a hint of smoky honey.” – Steve Heimoff [93 POINTS]
- From Scripps Howard News Service: "“Big, fat and bold ...
“…yet perfectly controlled and balanced by acid and notes of limestone, the Merryvale Silhouette Chardonnay 1999, Napa Valley, is boundlessly spicy, vivid with pineapple-grapefruit scents and flavors that expand to honeysuckle and camellia; this wine, vibrant with intensity and purity gathers nuance and exoticism by the second. A great example of California at its best and much better balanced and integrated than the ’98 rendition. EXCELLENT.” – Frederick Koeppel [ Excellent]
- From Syndicated Columnist: "Sweet pineapple and butter...
“… aromas, lemon Meringue pie flavors, full-bodied, almost viscous, tart lemon finish; $49.00.” – Fred Tasker (Miami Etc.)[ Excellent]
- From California Grapevine: " Attractive, forward, toasty...
“… ripe pear and hazelnut aroma with buttery components; meduim-full to full body; firmly structured, toasty, buttery flavors with notes of hazelnut and vanilla; well balanced. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” – Nick Ponomareff [89 POINTS]