Silhouette
Showing 1 thru -9 of 11
Merryvale 1999 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $49
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. —S.H.
— S.H.
(5/1/2002)
Merryvale 2003 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $45
Silhouette typically is held back a little longer than most Chards, which seems to soften it slightly. Still, the ’03 is as fresh and pure in fruit as a young wine. It brims with ripe green apple butter, pineapple custard, butterscotch and spicy rum flavors that are well-oaked, and has none of the herbaceousness that often marks Napa Valley Chardonnay. Drink now–2009.
— S.H.
(5/1/2007)
Merryvale 2008 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $55
Silhouette is Merryvale’s small-production best of barrels blend from the winery’s various vineyards. The ’08 is a success, showing brisk acidity and new oak and yeast flavors and a creamy texture framing ripe pineapple, pear and mineral flavors. It’s an elegant wine that shouldn’t be served too cold.
— S.H.
(3/1/2011)
Merryvale 2001 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $45
Lots of new oak and lees lend this wine toasty, yeasty, creamy notes, with vanilla on the finish. The fruit? It’s green apples and papayas, with liberal acids. Feels a bit tight now, and could develop for a few years.
— S.H.
(12/31/2004)
Merryvale 1997 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $48
Oak and tropical fruit are highlights of the aroma, which also includes buttercream, vanilla and a leesy streak. Flavors are dominated by toasty oak, with butterscotch, vanilla custard, and crème brûlée wrapped around a solid core of apple. For fans of big-boned, sweet Chards.
— W.E.
(10/1/2000)
Merryvale 2000 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $45
Made from best barrels, this wine offers more richness and satisfaction than Merryvale’s Reserve bottling, although it’s far from a big wine. Flavors of peaches and apples are restrained. Oak plays a vital role here in enriching and fattening the wine.
— S.H.
(6/1/2003)
Merryvale 2002 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $50
Even at three-plus years, this Chard still tastes young and tight. It’s perfectly dry, with high acidity and an earthiness that covers citrus and peach flavors. It will never be a big, over-the-top wine, but it’s a fine one that should develop additional complexities over the next five years.
— S.H.
(8/1/2006)
Merryvale 2005 Silhouette Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
- $48
Sourced from three great Chardonnay vineyards (Stanly Ranch, Hyde and Silverado-Suscol), this Chard is enormously flavorful in fruit custard flavors and new oak. It’s delicious, but a little obvious, especially on the oak side, and could have more complex nuances and angles. Drink now.
— S.H.
(12/15/2008)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 11
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