The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Sonoma Coast

Varietal   Pinot Noir

Retail Price   $75

ABV   14.5%

Score   4.5 Stars/95 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, deep ruby color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry and dried herbs with supporting notes of boysenberry, black tea, forest floor, and cigar box.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, five spice, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins and tart berries.

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

Cool Factor

What's not cool about a delicious, tiny production Pinot with personality and a stellar track-record. Tongue Dancer's Putnam Pinot has established itself as a perennial favorite.

Value Grade

Have you heard that Pinot Noir is expensive? Sure you have. This very stylish wine won't make anyone's bargain list but it's exceptional and extraordinarily limited so if you blink you'll miss your chance to get a few bottles.

Analysis

The 2021 vintage marks the seventh vintage of The Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir — but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Loyal BevX readers and fans of Tongue Dancer wines know the Putnam Vineyard Pinot to be synonymous with their “Pinot de Ville” designation as it was from 2014 to 2019. An act of nature made the Putnam fruit unavailable for 2020 so other capable sources filled the void. A clever decision was then made to continue with “Pinot de Ville” from rotating sources and then have a dedicated label for the great Putnam Vineyard — located in the Sonoma Coast town of Annapolis just six miles from the Pacific coast. So it’s the seventh and a first and as expected, it’s amazing. The grapes are hand-picked and gently destemmed, not crushed. The five-day, pre-fermentation cold soak undoubtedly contributes to the dark, inky color and intense aromatics. This Pinot rests for 18 months exclusively in French oak barrels (17% new) prior to bottling.

How to Enjoy

This wine really needs nothing but a glass but the rich texture and bright acidity would pair perfectly with a grilled beef ribeye or rich, braised beef and mushrooms.