Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2024

Item: Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2024
Rating: 97
Author: Sean Ludford

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Sonoma Coast

Varietal Pinot Noir

Retail Price $55

ABV 14.3%

Score 5 Stars/97 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, medium ruby color.

Aromatics

Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with scents of red cherry, dried wild strawberry, and baking spices, along with supporting notes of clay, violet, red plum, and dried herbs.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red-and-black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, boysenberry compote, cured meats, and pomegranate. The finish is long and lingering with firm but accessible tannins and hints of tamarind.

Intensity & Texture

Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture.

Cool Factor

Vintage after vintage, Tongue Dancer never fails to impress, as their Pinots are ultra-balanced and full of flavor and personality, making them very cool.

Value Grade

The Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) have proven their worth, being stylish and complex, as well as exceptionally limited and rare. These wines are worth every penny and then some…

Analysis

In Ancient Greek the fear of the number 13 is known as Triskaidekaphobia. Some view 13 as a lucky number. This brings us to Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW), which has just released its thirteenth vintage of its now-famous Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. We have reviewed every vintage since 2015, and this wine’s quality has been incredibly consistent, scoring between 94 and 98 points each year. This is a rare example of steady and spectacular colliding to create one of our favorite California reds. The wine is always a product of the vintage and of James MacPhail's creativity and skill. In 2024, the fruit was sourced from four trusted vineyards and more than a half-dozen clones. The berries were gently de-stemmed and not crushed. It was fermented in small, open-top fermenters, with the cap punched down by hand three times a day. Post-fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak (20% new) on its lees for 14 months. It was bottled unfined and lightly filtered in December 2025. We love this special wine and can easily envision the scores rising with a bit of cellaring.

How to Enjoy

This wine needs nothing but a glass, but its rich texture and bright acidity would pair perfectly with a grilled beef tenderloin or grilled leg of lamb. Decant this wine at least 30 minutes prior to drinking.