Tandem Winery at Wine Spectrum, Santa Rosa

Tandem Winery Tasting
Greg La Follette is no stranger to those who know great Chard and Pinot. The former winemaker at Flowers and Hartford Court is THE guru for truly burgundian style wines in Sonoma. It's always a treat to taste a lineup of his wines and last tuesday's tasting of new Tandem wines was no exception. La Follette sources fruit from various locations in Sonoma, from Russian River out to the coast. His relationships with growers get him the finest grapes available and allow him to produce some of the best wines in Sonoma county. Greg is a man who speaks with both knowledge and passion when discussing wine, you can tell instantly that he lives to make great wine and with every accolade, his pride in his craft grows.
1) Tandem "Ritchie" Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2004
The Ritchie Vineyard is one of Sonoma's most revered for Chardonnay, and Tandem's version does not dissappoint. Mildly toasty with 1/3 new french barrels, the Ritchie chard is all finesse with nary a rough edge in sight. Loads of tropical and stone fruit with hints of caramel, baking spice and citrus. The texture is luxurious and plush with a minute long finish. Around $45 at retail.
93 points
2) Tandem "Sangiacomo" Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, 2005
When I tasted this last year, I was shocked by it's intense perfume, happily, it was no fluke and it is even more striking now that it has been in bottle for a while. A crazy nose of flowers, spice, and musk gives way to fat and exotic tropical fruits, guava and papaya, as well as super ripe pear and fuji apple. On the palate, the fruit is lavish and expressive, giving more than a mouthful of intense juicy pear. The texture, like the Ritchie, is what got me though. Creamy and broad without being over oaked (also 1/3 new french), the Sangiacomo show's La Follette's mastery of burgundian style Chards. Around $45
92 points

3) Tandem "Sangiacomo" Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2004
The aromatics of the Sangiacomo pinot are breathtaking, carrying the musk and spice notes present in the chard to a completely different level. La Follette calls it "Animale et Sauvage" and I'm tempted to agree, adding on sweet tobacco, cola and coffee for good measure. Loaded with ripe, dark berry fruit ranging from cherry to blueberry and a hint of sour cranberry. Fat and viscous on the palate with firm acidity and a minute-plus finish. Tremendous. Around $55 at retail.
93 points
4) Tandem "Silver Pines" Pinot Noir, Sonoma Mountain, 2005
A mere 227 cases of the Silver Pines was produced this year. Which sucks, because this stuff is truly breathtaking. Exotic and enticing with a mess of berry fruit and hints of cocoa and licorice. Less aromatic, but fatter and broader texturally than the Sangiacomo, I couldn't decide which I preferred. The Silver Pines give the impression of a pinot ready to burst from the inside out- juicy and firmly acidic and just plain fun to drink. I'll use the same word...tremendous. Around $55
93 points