The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Dry Creek Valley

Varietal   Chardonnay

Retail Price   $59

ABV   14.3%

Score   5 Stars/98 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium gold/green color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of slate, green apple, and honeysuckle with supporting notes of green tea, green melon, lychee, chamomile, and hints of tarragon.

The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, apricot stone, star fruit, and pineapple. The finish is long and lingering with bright citrus and anise notes.

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

Cool Factor

Not many winemakers can make Chardonnay cool — it's ubiquitous — but Tongue Dancer delivers a collection of Chardonnays with personality.

Value Grade

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

Analysis

Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) “Sly One” just got really sly. For multiple vintage this expression was purely Pinot Noir and now we see that Chardonnay can be sly as well. Keeping with its namesake, The Sly One Chardonnay is TDW’s first Chardonnay from Dry Creek Valley, near Healdsburg. The vineyard is planted with the Montrachet clone — a name very familiar to white Burgundy lovers. This wine from this source was thought to be a one-off but my sources (my sources on these things are quite good) tell me that a Chardonnay made from this vineyard will become a regular in the TDW lineup. It’s all concrete fermented in a round, concrete vat and then aged on its lees for 11 months. The resulting Chardonnay is mind-blowing and while it tastes like TDW — it’s also very unique. It’s in very short supply so get yours fast (released on Mother’s Day).

How to Enjoy

Of course this wine needs nothing but a glass but it is food friendly with its great depth and natural acidity that it begs for grilled shrimp or sautéed scallops.