Description
We were having dinner at the excellent but tiny seven table Guiso Latin Fusion in Healdsburg (highly recommend!) when I spotted a bottle of Nalle Winery Zinfandel from nearby Dry Creek Valley along with a few business cards from winemaker/proprietor Andrew Nalle on a shelf behind Renee. I should preface that Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel has always been a true favorite ever since Andrew’s father Doug used to call on me in the late 1980s when I was purchasing for restaurants. In the earlier days of The Wine Consultant, I used to stock small quantities of Nalle Zin too. I know some of you will recall the region’s iconic Zinfandel producer Rafanelli which was impossible to find unless you were on the winery’s mailing list/club or a selected restaurant wine list. Nalle’s Zins were more limited, prized and difficult to obtain too.
ANYWAY, I contacted Andrew and we were all excited to meet eachother the following afternoon.
Nalle Winery went commercial in 1984, but the family has always farmed the original vineyards planted in the 1927. Nalle is the epitome of the “boutique” winery and still only produces a “portfolio” of about 2,000 cases annually. Andrew, who has since graduated from Fresno State with a degree in enology and viticulture, took over the reins from his father in 2017. He and his wife April, who is a viticulturist from Australia, now run the day-to-day operations out of the rosemary covered roof top winery, but with Dad “on call” for consultation.
After meeting and tasting with Andrew, we were extremely impressed with his 2023 Nalle Winery Old Vine Zinfandel which is sourced from the family estate’s dry farmed (no irrigation) bush vines nearly 100 years old. Only a little more than 500 cases were produced. Luckily, Andrew had some remaining inventory for us which we picked up for the store on our drive home. Nalle has steered the course, and never tried to be trendy by producing those fatiguingly big jammy, high octane Zins that were better with a cigar around the firepit. The 2023 Nalle’s Old Vine Zin sits at 13.9% and showcases refreshing briary, black raspberry fruit for which this terroir is known. Silky smooth and perfectly balanced after being aged for 11 months in a small percentage (25%) new French oak, it is a pure joy to drink now or cellar for an additional 10 years of pleasure seeking. Included in this 92% Zinfandel are 5% Petit Sirah and 3% Carignane from the home vineyard.
The upcoming August 31st. issue of Wine Spectator rates this wine at 93 points. I would suggest easily adding on another plus TWO points! “There’s an elegantly brooding core below the sleek and svelte flavors of raspberry, briar patch and white pepper that glide on the polished finish. Drink now through 2033.” The wine is listed by both Wine Spectator and winery at $54 a bottle.
By the way, there is an excellent feature article by Wine Spectator about Nalle Winery entitled “Zinfandel According to Nalle” by Tim Fish (March 22, 2022)
YES! We want to share the joy found in this “old school” traditional Zin that so over delivers in all the right ways. The perfect wine to enhance your slow smoked BBQ and grill cuisine in the summer, or braises in the fall and winter months!
Oh! Andrew is saving some more cases for us to restock the beginning of August, but then those bottles will NOT be offered at this special discount.
One other note!
ZAP is Celebrating 35 Years A Reunion of Friends, A Gathering of Legends
Raise a glass to 35 extraordinary years of Zinfandel advocacy as we invite you to an unforgettable weekend in Napa Valley — ZinEX Weekend Classic, January 29–31, 2026. Join our vibrant community of Zinfandel lovers, vintners, and culinary artisans for an immersive celebration of heritage, flavor, and fellowship.