Imagine my delight at learning that winemaker James MacPhail decided to take his expertise with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay into the realm of sparkling wine. Sourced from Ordway’s Valley Foothills Vineyard, it’s a stunning sparkling Rosé composed of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. The cool Anderson Valley climate delivers the numbers needed (pH 2.99, TA 8.6 g/l) for shimmering bubbly, and James delivers the rest, with 4 years of lees aging in the bottle before disgorgement and deft blending for layered complexity. The result is just what you’d expect: a wine alive with acidity, texture and flavor that’s worthy of its branding. Effervescent strawberry, citrus and stony mineral notes dance across the palate with zesty flash and leave a lasting impression – and a bottle that’s empty too soon. It’s a very small production effort, so get it on your dance card quickly!
Tongue Dancer, Anderson Valley (Mendocino County, California) 2015
By Rich Cook