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Nalle 2010 Dry Creek Zinfandel On Sale $34.99 (reg $40) The Nalle Winery is about as "family" as it gets, with husband and wife Doug and Lee Nalle and their son Andrew pretty much running the whole show on the winery side, and Lee's cousins managing the vineyard. The winery and the Nalle's home are both on property that has been in Lee's family, the Henderlongs, since 1927. Things haven't changed much here since the winery was founded by Doug who after a short stint in Baseball found himself looking for something new after an injury ended his career. He started in the California wine business in 1973, working in the cellars of Souverain Winery, getting his Master's Degree Wine Arrives Friday. To order click on the link below, call us at 908.953.0900 or reply to this email. Limited! Miss Something? Click here for our recent newsletter offers! California Zinfandel has long enjoyed a reputation as "America's Red Wine", earned over a century or so of grape growing in California and somewhat grounded in the uncertainty of the grape's origins that held over the years. Traced back as far as the Gold Rush era in California, the first documented use of the name Zinfandel was in an advertisement by a Boston nursery offering Zinfandel vines for sale in 1832. How it arrived in the US is still not entirely settled, and over time it's origins were hotly disputed, with Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy's Puglia region all making a case, and some even proposing that it was an all-American variety. Thanks to dogged sleuthing and the application of scientific analysis, Jancis Robinson's book traces its roots to the Tribidrag grape of Croatia. In any case, Zinfandel found a home in the sunny California climate and has thrived ever since, and today is the third-leading winegrape variety in California, with more than 47,000 acres planted, according to the 2012 California Grape Acreage Report. Its history as a wine grape in the US has seen the grape produced in a wide range of styles - some claiming that this has actually caused some confusion among consumers who may shy away from the grape as a result. It has found itself used for everything from a blending variety along with a host of other red grapes to make hearty full reds, to its pop star fame as White Zinfandel, to the monster high alcohol versions that captured the press and public in the late 1990's, and yes, even some to beautifully balanced dry red wines in what I would call the "Claret" style. And in my opinion it is the later iteration of the grape that best captures its true potential. Nalle is a perfect example of this style, with the winery making Zinfandel in pretty much the same style since the winery was founded over 30 years ago. With the trend towards wines with over 16% of alcohol, Nalle has never taken the bait, keeping his Zin's at 14% or under (the 2010 is 13.7%, lower than most Cali Cabernet, let alone Zin), and making them in a style that keeps them full bodied and solid, yet balanced, fresh and lively as well with juicy brambly dark zin fruit tones, crushed red fruits, and slid structure and acidity. As a result they are versatile and food friendly (what do you drink 16% wine with anyway?) pairing great with grilled or braised meats, game, roasted turkey or chicken, and Mexican cuisine. |
As American As Apple Pie - Or is it? Classic Old School California Zinfandel From Nalle
from UC Davis in 1979 and going on to work with Dick Arrowood, John Koongsgaard and Quivera, located in the Dry Creek region where his winery is today. What I love about this winery is there steadfast commitment to making lovely, classic old school California Zin. With alcohols rarely, if ever, over 14%, their Zin is a balanced, lovely wine with great juicy crushed red fruits, undertones of darker, brambly fruits, beautiful acidity, and just a kiss of oak. Nalle's Zinfandel are deliciously enjoyable when young, but also age and improve for a decade or more, with the winery offering library releases from time to time. This is a perfect summer BBQ wine, as well as with heartier fall and winter fare too. Serve with grilled or braised meats, BBQ, burgers, grilled chicken, game or Mexican cuisine. Cheers! Chris |
