WTN: 2001 Nalle Zinfandel, Sonoma Dry Creek Valley (13.5 ABV)
Those of you paying attention at home may have noted my recent disappointment with a bottle of 2004 Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel..bleh! In order to appease the Zinfadel gods, I opened this Nalle last evening to accompany some grilled Iowa hog ribs and order seems to have been restored and my past zinfadelities with that Seghesio harlot have been forgiven.
I always find it somewhat difficult to describe Nalle's wines as they usually are so damn balanced/integrated that no one or two aspects stand out. This bottle was no exception, but I'll give it a shot anyways:
Still very young, showing little sign of age. Bright, but not overpowering red cherry zin fruit with a touch of briary stuff. The nose has a floral aspect not unlike the Russian Olive shrub that is now floring in the garden. I found it intersting that this bottle dispayed an almost Rhone-like earthiness appearing/disappearing/reappearing in the background. I have had this wine 5 or 6 times previously and never noted this quality. As usual, this wine showed terrific acidity and a lingering pepper finish. We were truly disappointed when dinner was over and the wine fininshed.
If you have any of these, feel free to drink now, or if you have any willpower, let them rest in the cellar foranother 3 or 4 years...I'm betting they will show nicely.
Redwinger