Pale gold color; grapefruit, lemon-lime, green apple, white peach, saline minerality, honey, beeswax, and a blade of lemongrass on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins; palate-cleansing, but not cutting, acidity. Light-medium body. Impressively fresh and balanced, even smooths out some after exposure to air in your glass. Blend of 87% sauvignon blanc, 13% sémillon—a Napa version of White Bordeaux. The sauv blanc provides the expected acidity, crispness, sharp-tasting fruit notes, while sémillon adds texture and the honey-beeswax and saline notes. Wine fermented in 50% concrete eggs, 40% neutral French oak, 10% new French oak. Aged 14 months on the lees in 10% new French oak and 90% in neutral oak. The oak isn’t used to add flavor, but to soften phenolic bitterness. 13.9% ABV
The wine’s name honors Sylviane Leducq, co-founder with her husband, Jean, of the Leducq Charitable Trust that owns Ehlers Estate. Ehlers is the only non-profit winery in Napa. All proceeds from Ehlers Estate operations go into funding medical research. The Leducq Charitable Trust is based in the Bahamas, part of the broader Leducq organization focused on cardiovascular and neurovascular research world wide.
Lured by the allure of wine and motivated to embrace new challenges, French entrepreneurs and philanthropists Jean and Sylviane Leducq purchased land in the St. Helena area of Napa in the mid-1980s. In the manner of a French châteaux, they methodically acquired adjacent property to assemble today’s 42-acre, organically farmed estate. Bernard Ehlers, the original owner, built a stone barn in 1886 that is the heart of the operation today.
The Leducqs, through The Leducq Charitable Trust, passed on management of Ehlers Estate operation to Laura Díaz Muñoz. Originally from Madrid, when she took the reins, Díaz committed to taking Ehlers into its next generation, including focused farming that includes some replanting. She also experimented with a variety of vessels for cellaring and aging. Her time at Ehlers ended in 2022, but she certainly influenced the Ehlers style you taste in this bottle. Adam Castro is the head winemaker today, becoming head winemaker in 2023, making this effort his first vintage. Steven Folb is the general manager.
The Ehlers vineyards are located in an up-valley location in the St. Helena AVA in Napa. The location provides ideal ripening conditions with the narrowing channel of the Vaca and Mayacamas mountains delivering cooling winds to promote freshness, balance, and finesse. The St. Helena AVA is a sub-appellation of the larger Napa Valley AVA. The AVA centers around the town of St. Helena in the northern part of the larger Napa Valley AVA. It is noted for its warmer climate and diverse soils, from gravelly loam to volcanic.
Ehlers Estate Sylviane White Wine, St. Helena 2023 is a refined, tasty Napa wine made in the style of White Bordeaux. Sauv blanc nicely carries the load, but sémillon does its part by adding texture and subtle, pleasing, honey and saline notes. Very nice premier pour. Ehlers is the only non-profit winery in Napa, with proceeds going to medical research. $50-60
Pairing—Shellfish shines, oysters on the half shell, grilled scallops in olive oil with lemon and herbs; shrimp, Dungeness crab, butter-poached lobster. White fish, broiled halibut, sole, grilled branzino with lemon and thyme. Herb-roasted chicken, chicken piccata, tarragon chicken salad (avoid heavy cream sauces; lemon-herb is best). Goes well with many fresh vegetables, asparagus and pea risotto. Cheese—Fresh goat cheese, chèvre; creamy cheeses, brie, camembert, triple-cream cheeses; young sheep’s milk, valençay or mild feta-style. Fresh mozzarella, buttata; mild, young cheddar or swiss; young comté.
