Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Tongue Dancer Wines The Sly One Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2023
Product Story
Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) has just released its second vintage of their “Sly One” Chardonnay, and we are over the moon. This satisfies our desire for excellent wines with a touch of intrigue as well. Like the first vintage in 2021, the Sly One Chardonnay hails from Dry Creek Valley, near Healdsburg. The vineyard is planted with the Montrachet clone — a name very familiar to white Burgundy lovers. The 2023 Sly One Chardonnay is a sibling to TDW's Magnolia Montrachet Chardonnay. The two were separated at birth, with the Magnolia Montrachet being fermented and raised in a concrete “hippo,” while the Sly One was barrel-fermented in neutral French oak. The wine was then rested on its lees for 15 months, developing unsurpassed flavors. We hope they continue on the path of two different treatments for this spectacular Chardonnay.
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 have never seen a Tongue Dancer Wine fail to earn Four-Stars or better. Tongue Dancer constantly innovates, releasing new wines yearly while never missing a beat. Once, they surprised us by releasing a great, dry cider! 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 lemon curd, spring flowers, and lychee with supporting notes of apricot stone, green tea, and guava. The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, star fruit, citrus zest, blanched almonds, beeswax, and lightly toasted hazelnut. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture.
How to Serve
Of course, this wine needs nothing but a glass, but it is also food-friendly, thanks to its great depth and natural acidity, which pairs well with grilled shrimp or sautéed scallops.
Price: $59