Beverage of the Week (BOW)

Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2020

Product Story

The 2020 vintage marks the sixth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay. We have reviewed all of six of them witnessing an amazing record of success. The scores have ranged from 94 to 98 so you could say that it has lacked diversity… Each of these six has been a product of the vintage but the core characteristics have always been present. This vineyard features the Old Wente clone — a Chardonnay clone brought to California from Burgundy in 1912 by C.H. Wente. Like previous vintages, the 2020 Bacigalupi Chardonnay is completely barrel-fermented with native yeasts. The wine was then rested, sur lie, for a period of 16 months in French oak (20% new). This amazing and perfectly balanced Chardonnay is made entirely at their Grapewagon Crush facility in Healdsburg.

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. We have been reviewing the wines from Tongue Dancer for the better part of a decade and we have never seen a Tongue Dancer Wine fail to earn Four-Stars or better. Tongue Dancer is constantly innovating, releasing new wines every year while never missing a beat. This is a winery to watch. The wines are always in short supply so be swift. 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 lychee, honeysuckle, and tropical fruit with supporting notes of lemon curd, blanched almonds, meringue, and mineral. The palate echoes the nose delivering a tropical fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, pineapple, green apple, and passion fruit. The finish is long and lingering with bright citrus accents. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.

How to Serve

Serve chilled but not too cold or you will suppress the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with roasted fowl or fatty grilled fish. Of course it really needs nothing but a glass.

Price: $ 50

BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4239