Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Tongue Dancer Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022
Product Story
We are very pleased to see the return of the Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vine Hill Chardonnay now in its third release. This wine impressed in its first release and it continues on this track. There is clearly something special about this vineyard and the fruit it creates. This site was a thriving vineyard in the late nineteenth century until Prohibition. In the 1980s work was done to return this land to growing great wine varietals. Three, great Chardonnay clones are grown here, Mt Eden, Robert Young, and FPS 70 (Dijon). The blend of these clones results in a wine with great complexity and depth. The grapes were hand-picked, and whole-cluster pressed straight to barrel. It's 100% barrel-fermented and aged in French oak for 14 months (25% new) sur lie (on the lees giving it great texture and depth). Finally, it’s bottled unfined and lightly filtered in December 2023.
Brand Story
Tongue Dancer Wines is the creation of James and Kerry MacPhail. If you are a California Pinot Noir lover you likely know James' previous work with MacPhail Family Wines. James knows how to make amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and James knows a lot of people who grow spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We have been reviewing the wines from Tongue Dancer for the better part of a decade and we have never seen a Tongue Dancer Wine fail to earn Four-Stars or better. Tongue Dancer is constantly innovating, releasing new wines every year while never missing a beat. Last year they surprised us with the release of a great, dry cider! This is a winery to watch. The wines are always in short supply so be swift. Visit their website and join their mailing list to get direct access to their wines.
Tasting Note
Brilliant, medium golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of pear, white peach, and citrus zest with supporting notes of kumquat, lemon grass, and honeysuckle. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of lemon curd, apricot stone, slate, oak, and quince. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a creamy but vibrant texture.
How to Serve
Serve chilled but not too cold as this will mute the aromatics and flavors. Allow it to breathe for at least 30 minutes. This wine has a big future and if you have the patience to cellar this wine for five to 10 years you will be rewarded.
Price: $ 59
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4439
