Reflections on 40 vintages from two generations
I remember the skeptical looks in 1984
when we started Nalle Winery with
$1,000, a bunch more borrowed and
an emphasis on RED Zinfandel. I
repeat, RED Zinfandel. It’s taken a
hefty amount of luck and endless
support from my wife, Lee, family, and
friends; yet here I am forty vintages
later only slightly worse for the wear.
The wines of Nalle are better than ever
thanks to the hard work of our
winemaker son, Andrew and his
viticulturist wife, April. Lee and I are excited to see their enlightened vision for grape growing and winemaking come to fruition. We love drinking their efforts and I know you will too. “Vinum sapientiam tibi dat” aka “Wine makes you smart” … but don’t quote me.
—Doug the Elder
I remember…the sight of vine buds bursting in the spring and the smell of Dry Creek Valley summer dust; the hot days and cool nights; the first years of winemaking at the red barn over the hill; the excitement of zinfandel berries harvested off the vine; my dad explaining the craft of winemaking; the joyful time in the cellar creating a great wine; the smell of the first fall rain; welcoming friends, new and old, in the tasting room. Most of all, I trust that you, our wine drinking Squirrel Clubbers are enjoying Nalle wines wherever and whenever possible. We’ll keep the passion alive for 40 more years, and “honk for wine” even if you aren’t David Ebersole. —Andrew the Younger
2021 DRY CREEK VALLEY ‘CLASSIC’ ZINFANDEL
Our 95-year-old Estate vines deliver classic “Zinberry” notes of blackberry, plum, and baking spice. The youthful, fine-grained tannins on the palate are most pleasurable with one or two hours of aeration. With proper cellaring, its complex aromatics, medium body and on point acidity will develop for ten years and beyond. If you are a fan of the elite reds of Tuscany, you will surely enjoy. Fermented in temp controlled, open top fermenters.
Barrel aged 18 months in 22% new French oak (Alain Fouquet, Demptos, Taransaud) in our living roof cave.
Case Count: 196 | Alc. 14.0 | pH 3.57 | TA 6.4
2021 ESTATE RANCH RED 50% ZIN 50% CAB
touch of vanilla from the best French oak barrels make it irrésistible. Bring on the duck confit! Also fermented in temp controlled, open top fermenters. Barrel aged 18 months in 15% new French oak (Alain Fouquet, Demptos, Francois Freres).
Case Count: 479 | Alc. 13.9 | pH 3.62 | TA 6.0
2021 ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Case Count: 296 | Alc. 13.9 | pH 3.68 | TA 5.8
