The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Russian River Valley

Varietal   Chardonnay

Retail Price   $50

ABV   14.5%

Score   4.5 Stars/95 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium golden color.

The aromatics are very intense offering scents of lemon curd, kumquat, and white peach with supporting notes of orange peel, cantaloupe, and honeysuckle.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe, orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of lychee, stone fruits, and wet river stones. The finish is long and lingering with subtle citrus notes.

Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a opulent texture punctuated by a dose of toasty oak.

Cool Factor

Tongue Dancer made a statement last year with their superb Pinot Noir. This year they introduce a beautiful Chardonnay sure to earn even more followers – very cool!

Value Grade

Handmade Chardonnay from Russian River crafted in limited quantities is never to be found in the bargain aisle but we find this wine to be irresistible.

Analysis

This is a bold and somewhat raw (while very refined) Chardonnay with personality and gusto. It is completely barrel-fermented with native yeasts. The wine is aged in French oak, 25% new oak, for a period of 15 months and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Despite being crafted in such a way that typically creates monstrous Chardonnay, this wine from Tongue Dancer is quite nimble and vibrant while being multilayered and rich. This is Tongue Dancer's first Chardonnay and it is quite limited so get yours now. 95 points.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled but no too cold or you will suppress the the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with roasted fowl, cream sauces, or smoked salmon. The beautiful natural acidity in this wine makes it a great food pairing wine.