2021 Silenus - Chardonnay Napa (750ml)

Silenus Winery traces its roots to 1968, when Bruce Newlan, a former rocket scientist who fell in love with Napa Valley on vacation, replanted a walnut orchard into vineyards in what is now the Oak Knoll District. The winery takes its name from Silenus of Greek mythology, the wine-loving mentor and companion of Dionysus, a nod to the property's original devotion to the craft of winemaking.

This Chardonnay comes from the Materra Vineyard, situated near the Napa River within the Oak Knoll District, an area known for cool morning fog and mild afternoons that extend hang time and allow for slow, even ripening. The grapes are whole-cluster pressed, settled briefly, and then moved into French oak barrels, thirty percent of it new, where the wine ages on the lees for a full ten months to build texture and complexity while keeping the fruit character bright.

Aromas of honeydew melon, lemon verbena, and green apple lead into a palate rounded out by white nectarine, pear, and a touch of praline. The texture is rich yet lively, with a finish that stays fresh rather than heavy. Pair it with grilled chicken skewers, buttery lobster ravioli, or a young Havarti.