The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Russian River Valley

Varietal   Chardonnay

Retail Price   $50

ABV   14.4%

Score   4.5 Stars/94 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium golden color.

The aromatics are very intense offering scents of white peach and lychee with supporting notes of apricot stone, honeysuckle, and citrus zest.

The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of tropical fruit, lemon curd, and candied ginger. The finish is long and lingering with accents of vanilla bean and oak.

Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a opulent texture.

Cool Factor

Tongue Dancer's third release of their Russian River Chardonnay is an absolute gem offering unbeatable depth and balance making it very, very cool.

Value Grade

At $50 this is not likely an everyday wine for you but it's not supposed to be. Set aside for a holiday or big occasion and do serve with food.

Analysis

Tongue Dancer's third edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay is proof positive that this wine is a reflection of its vintage. The 2015 Chardonnay was bold with a brash charm while the 2016 Chardonnay is all about finesse and nuance, and the 2017 release lies somewhere in-between while showing a strong house-style that features balance and depth. Like previous vintages, the 2017 Bacigalupi Chardonnay is is completely barrel-fermented with native yeasts. This wine was then rested, sur lie, for a period of 16 months in French oak (20% new). This is a lovely Chardonnay, as we have been accustomed to expect, with great depth and a celebration of Russian River Valley fruit.

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.