Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot de Ville, 10th Anniversary Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Sonoma Coast

Varietal Pinot Noir

Retail Price $69

ABV 14.5%

Score 5 Stars/97 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, deep ruby color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, violet, and dried herbs with supporting notes of black tea, hibiscus flower, and oak.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red and black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, baking spices, mineral, earth, and thyme. The finish is long and lingering with dry tannins.

Intensity & Texture

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

Cool Factor

What's not cool about a delicious, tiny production (just five barrels) Pinot with personality? Tongue Dancer's "Pinot de Ville" has established itself as a perennial favorite.

Value Grade

This is a special wine built for a special occasion. We suggest grabbing a few bottles to share at the holidays this year and in the years to come.

Analysis

Time flies when you’re drinking good Pinot. The 2023 vintage marks the tenth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" (PDV). The fruit for this edition of their Cadillac wine is sourced from the familiar Pratt Vineyard along Sexton Road in a zone that is technically within the Russian River Valley. This vineyard site is renowned for its “Goldridge”, sandy loam soils, and being just nine miles from the Pacific Ocean, the coastal influences are undeniable. As always, the grapes are hand-picked, gently destemmed, and not crushed; they are cold-soaked for five days. This Pinot rests for 16 months exclusively in French oak barrels (20% new) before bottling. The production is minimal, so get some while you can. The 2023 Pinots from Tongue Dancer are intense and complex, and while quite enjoyable now, some patience in the cellar should yield amazing results. This vintage’s label (being a special ten-year milestone) features a solid gold de Ville, which seems proper and fitting.

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. Decant for an hour before drinking.