Beverage of the Week (BOW)

Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2020

Product Story

This spring (2022) we get treated to a new Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Chardonnay. A new Chardonnay is rarely cause for celebration but when it's made by James MacPhail we take notice. It's a blend from three vineyards: Bacigalupi, Pratt Irwin Lane, and Pratt Vine Hill. Regular readers at BevX and followers of TDW will recognize some of a couple of these vineyards from previous Chardonnay releases. The resulting Chardonnay is clearly more than a sum of its parts as it is deftly moderate in alcohol, simply accented with oak, and perfectly balanced. It's fully barrel-fermented, aged in French oak for 11 months (20% new), and bottled unfined and lightly filtered. We absolutely love this wine and we are very hopeful that this is not a one-off but rather a continuing part of their great portfolio.

Brand Story

Tongue Dancer Wines is the creation of James and Kerry MacPhail. If you are a California Pinot Noir lover you likely know James' previous work with MacPhail Family Wines. James knows how to make amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and James knows a lot of people who grow spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This best of both worlds scenario is witnessed in each sip of Tongue Dancer’s award winning wines. They offer a range of wines from various vineyard sources that include a lovely Rosé of Pinot Noir, as well as a classic method bubbly. Lately they have introduced their “Ultra” tier that is limited to their best barrel of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respectively. Tongue Dancer is constantly innovating, releasing new wines every year while never missing a beat. We can't wait to see what they do next. Visit their website and join their mailing list to get direct access to their wines.

Tasting Note

Brilliant, medium gold/green color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of apricot stone, honeysuckle, and custard with supporting notes of lemon curd, meringue, candied ginger, and lychee. The palate confirms the nose delivering a tropical fruits-driven core with flavors of pineapple, white peach, quince, honey, with hints of wild mint, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering with lemon zest lingering for minutes. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent yet vibrant texture.

How to Serve

Serve chilled but not too cold or you will suppress the the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with roasted fowl or grilled, meaty fish and seafood.

Price: $ 55

BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4195