Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2020

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Russian River Valley

Varietal Chardonnay

Retail Price $50

ABV 13.75%

Score 4.5 Stars/95 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, medium gold/green color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lychee, honeysuckle, and tropical fruit with supporting notes of lemon curd, blanched almonds, meringue, and mineral.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose delivering a tropical fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, pineapple, green apple, and passion fruit. The finish is long and lingering with bright citrus accents.

Intensity & Texture

Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.

Cool Factor

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

Value Grade

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

Analysis

The 2020 vintage marks the sixth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay. We have reviewed all of six of them witnessing an amazing record of success. The scores have ranged from 94 to 98 so you could say that it has lacked diversity… Each of these six has been a product of the vintage but the core characteristics have always been present. This vineyard features the Old Wente clone — a Chardonnay clone brought to California from Burgundy in 1912 by C.H. Wente. Like previous vintages, the 2020 Bacigalupi Chardonnay is completely barrel-fermented with native yeasts. The wine was then rested, sur lie, for a period of 16 months in French oak (20% new). This amazing and perfectly balanced Chardonnay is made entirely at their Grapewagon Crush facility in Healdsburg.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled but not too cold or you will suppress the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with roasted fowl or fatty grilled fish. Of course it really needs nothing but a glass.