2019 Silhouette
Varietals
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.5%
Flavor Profile
A warm but even growing season enabled the grapes to be picked at optimum ripeness. Both primary and malolactic native fermentations went smoothly in the barrel, only assisted by occasional stirring of the lees. The wine was blended after six months, and then aged on fine lees for a year. The resulting wine is loaded with complexity, terroir and refinement.
Aromatically alluring, the 2019 Silhouette opens with notes of hazelnut, orange blossom and jasmine. Layered, complex flavors of lemon curd, dried pineapple and marzipan unfold on the broad yet focused palate. An elegant, deep acidity sustains the weight and natural lusciousness of the wine. The finish is long and evolving, exhibiting the traditional minerality of the historic Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard. A truly pleasurable wine to enjoy now or over the next 10+ years.
- Vineyard Notes
Silhouette is a limited production white wine worthy of a collector’s cellar. This hallmark Chardonnay captures the Schlatter Family’s vision of crafting an old-world style white wine from Napa Valley. Since the first vintage in 1993, we have selected our very best Chardonnay lots for the Silhouette bottling. For the first time in 2019, 100% of the fruit was sourced from Block 2A of our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard on the Napa side of the Carneros AVA, allowing the designation of estate grown and bottled for this exceptional wine.
Hand harvested at night to retain vibrant acidity, the grapes for Silhouette were whole cluster pressed to a temperature controlled stainless steel tank to settle the juice, then racked into French oak barrels the following day. The winemaking techniques were classic Burgundian—spontaneous native yeast barrel fermentation, gentle bâttonage and natural malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 months on fine lees in 50% new French Burgundian oak barrels, and was racked once before bottling.
- FROM ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE: "THE 2019 CHARDONNAY...
“… Silhouette opens with wonderfully pure notes of fresh yellow apples, Bosc pears and green guava with hints of brioche, toasted almonds and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a gorgeous satiny texture and tons of freshness, delivering bags of juicy apple and pear flavors on the long finish. Enjoy it now and over the next 4 to 5 years.” —Lisa Perrotti-Brown [91 POINTS]