Tongue Dancer Wines Vineyard eleven Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2024

Item: Tongue Dancer Wines Vineyard eleven Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2024
Rating: 98
Author: Sean Ludford

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Russian River Valley

Varietal Pinot Noir

Retail Price $69

ABV 14.5%

Score 5 Stars/98 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, deep ruby color.

Aromatics

Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, with scents of pomegranate, raspberry, forest floor, and black tea, along with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, five spice, and hints of wild blueberry.

Flavor

The palate confirms the nose, delivering a red-and-black fruit-driven core with flavors of semitart cherry, boysenberry, slate, and tamari, and accents of lavender. The finish is long and lingering with supple tannins.

Intensity & Texture

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

Cool Factor

Yes, it does indeed go to eleven — we love everything about this wine.

Value Grade

B+

It’s rare to say that a wine selling near $70 a bottle is a bargain, but in this case, it is. Just six barrels made — Vineyard eleven is becoming an instant classic.

Analysis

We are pleased to see the second vintage of Tongue Dancer Wines’ (TDW) Vineyard Eleven Pinot Noir. Like its predecessor, this Pinot goes to 11. Vineyard eleven (lowercase intended) is a gorgeous, 21-acre ranch with an eleven-acre Pinot Noir vineyard. The vineyard is owned by Marla & Geoffrey Bedrosian, the proprietors of Domaine de la Rivière. The grapes for this wine come from the vineyard’s Red Barn block that features the Vosne-Romanee clone. The 2024 Vineyard Eleven shares the quality standards set by the 2023 vintage, while the wines are marginally different. The 2024 was harvested about a month earlier than the 2023, but it still maintains a tremendous balance with exceptional natural acidity. The grapes were hand-picked on the morning of August 20th and gently de-stemmed — not crushed. Thrice-daily punchdowns and cool fermentation temperatures ensured depth and a fruit-forward wine. The wine spent 11 months on the lees in French oak (one-sixth new). It was bottled unfined and lightly filtered in August of 2025.

How to Enjoy

Serve this wine with nothing but a glass. Pair it with grilled meat, subtly spiced, so this wine is the meal's star.