The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Russian River Valley

Varietal   Chardonnay

Retail Price   $49

ABV   13.69%

Score   4.5 Stars/96 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium gold/green color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lemon curd, lychee, and citrus zest with supporting notes of meringue, apricot stone, slate, and brioche.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, orange peel, tropical fruit, and quince paste. The finish is long and lingering with bright, natural acidity.

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

Cool Factor

Great wine and consistency are both very cool and this wine presents a master class in wines made with personality.

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. The production is limited.

Analysis

The 2023 vintage represents the seventh release of Tongue Dancer Wines’ Pratt Vineyard/Irwin Lane Chardonnay or simply the “Flying Barrel” as it is affectionately known. We have been a huge fan of this wine from the start with the 2017 vintage and have yet to award any version fewer than 95 points. This Chardonnay is made entirely with certified organic grapes. Whole clusters are pressed grapes straight to tank, then transferred to barrel. It is wholly fermented in barrel, with Burgundian yeast, and rested on its lees for 11 months in French oak barrels (25% new). Unlike many California Chardonnays, this wine uses oak as a subtle accent, allowing the complex fruit to shine. It was bottled unfired and lightly filtered in August of 2024. It’s amazingly lean while supple with stupendous balance and length. This is certainly for lovers of White Burgundy — Chablis Premier Cru.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled but not too cold or you will suppress the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with smoked fish, grilled fowl, or kaeng lueang.