A visit to our rustic setting offers an authentic view of our limited production, family owned and operated winery located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. Tastings, often hosted by a Nalle family member, are on the patio area behind our living roof winery. Our sustainable vineyards surround the property, allowing visitors to enjoy vineyard vistas while sipping on our wines and, if they choose, to stroll among the vines.
Living in Dry Creek Valley amid old vine Zinfandel planted by our great grandfather in 1927, it is only natural that we’re known for Zinfandel. In the spring of 2022, two of our Zins garnered scores of 93 and 94 from the Wine Spectator. Although we were honored to receive these scores, what means the most to us is having visitors taste and appreciate our wines. Our focus is wines with aliveness, aromatic intensity and smooth textures. Pair that with moderate alcohols and French oak for something uniquely Nalle.
We produce small lots of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, a proprietary Estate Cabernet/Zinfandel cuvée, an Old Vine Zin from vines planted in 1927, and a Pinot/Zin combo coined Zinot Noir. We invite you to book a tasting and experience the crafting first hand. We’re focused on our balanced wines, and serious about having Zinfun while we do it. Come share the joy of wine (and food) with us!
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Hoping for good rattage and winemaker participation. I really tend toward Willamette valley PNs, but I have enjoyed some RRV ones as well. I stay away from warmer-area California ones because tend to be too sweet/fruity for me. At case price this might be tempting. No, I don’t need any more cases of wine, but who is to define need anyway?
Edit: at a 2023, it seems this might have some good aging potential. Curious for comments about that.
yes in the cellar rn, like a good cellar rat. This is my favorite Pinot since the 2019 vintage. Leads with graceful rose and violet notes, with small Pinot berry cherry and strawberriness, plus complex sweet spices. It’s fun and it has character and depth. Will age because the pH is 3.58. Latest we’ve harvested Hopkins Ranch ever, Sept. 25th and Oct. 3rd.
This is a perfectly pleasant Pinot with a fragrant nose. It’s about as by the book Sonoma Pinot in terms of character as you could ask for. It’s a little soft, but the fragrance and the midpalate will have you wondering who has been stealing wine from your glass.
I opened it yesterday after giving it a few days to sit, then put it in the fridge and tried it again today. I’d say it held up fairly well overnight but I do not think I’d put this down for long term aging. It’s a little too soft and it fell apart a little faster in my glass than wines you might hold on to for the long term. (10+ years). That said, I think it’s got a few years in it easily and it is exceedingly pleasant from the very first pour.
correct, the TA is tad low because we harvested in late Sept and early Oct. I would say 2 or 3 more aging will showcase tertiary aromas and fill in the palette. These Nalle Pinots are more like sweet spot aging in the 3 to 5 year range from vintage, so now, until 2028. Main thing, does it bring joy and go nicely with the meal.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2023 Nalle Hopkins Ranch Pinot Noir - $94 = 30.92%
It’s been a while since I made frequent trips to wine country (fixing that in the spring) but Nalle was usually a stop. Doug was still in charge (probably still is ha!) and Andrew was just coming on. Everything here is well done. Love the zins, they age incredibly well and always enjoyed the pinot and yes on the softer side as I recall. Guessing that’s due to the swan. And the 115? Sell it out and maybe they come back with some zin or cab
A box to SC, in October of course
The pinots harversted in Russian river tend to have less acid, ie TA or higher pH then the Dry Creek Zins I predominantly make. The 115 was harvested in late Sept. The 667 and Swan were in Oct.
Here is my nerdy brain: I’m really curious when they picked this. My guess from how it tastes and the numbers is that it was mid October, though I could be wrong.
2023 was an exceptional vintage, long and very cool. Harvest was running about 6 weeks late, though the fruit did mature and was wonderful even as sugars stayed low. But there was one thing that caught a lot of winemakers: a brutal mid October heatwave that meant over a couple of days, fruit that was stubbornly sticking at 21 brix suddenly was in danger of cooking.
It led to a bit of fragility in some of the wines made at that stage. Catch it early enough and you’d still have all the wonderful aromatics that the long slow growing season won, but maybe less of the staying power.
@nallewinery I like a lot of what this wine says about your approach stylistically. Do you have a similar approach to zinfandel? That is my favorite style for zin, though it’s hard to find, so I’m always on the look out! To me Zin is very similar to Pinot in someways, especially in how finicky and rewarding it is when made with care.
Yeah good one novium. Sept 25th half the lot, of the 115 clone was harvested at 23.0 brix and the other half, the 667 clone and Swan on Oct 3rd at ~23.1 brix. The subtle, complex fruitiness and spiced floral notes have been intriguing since this wine was in the François Frères, Demptos, Alain Fouquet, and Taransaud barrels.
This sounds like a wine I’d enjoy and I love the Vinter participation, but my cellar is close to capacity. I’ll think on it and perhaps grab the 3 pack tomorrow.
Russian River Pinot Noir for under $20/bottle? I can’t resist! In for a case. And fwiw, please keep your current label. So many wineries are changing their labels and not for the better!
Nalle Hopkins Ranch Pinot Noir
2023 Nalle Pinot Noir, Hopkins Ranch, Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$744/Case at Nalle Winery for 12x 2023 Nalle Pinot Noir, Hopkins Ranch, Russian River Valley
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 3 - Tuesday, Aug 4
2023 Nalle Hopkins Ranch Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $75.99 $25.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $209.99 $17.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@ilCesare wines like this sometimes go for $16-18 for a 5 oz glass pour in fancy restaurants in Northern California.
Hoping for good rattage and winemaker participation. I really tend toward Willamette valley PNs, but I have enjoyed some RRV ones as well. I stay away from warmer-area California ones because tend to be too sweet/fruity for me. At case price this might be tempting. No, I don’t need any more cases of wine, but who is to define need anyway?
Edit: at a 2023, it seems this might have some good aging potential. Curious for comments about that.
@pmarin
yes in the cellar rn, like a good cellar rat. This is my favorite Pinot since the 2019 vintage. Leads with graceful rose and violet notes, with small Pinot berry cherry and strawberriness, plus complex sweet spices. It’s fun and it has character and depth. Will age because the pH is 3.58. Latest we’ve harvested Hopkins Ranch ever, Sept. 25th and Oct. 3rd.
This is a perfectly pleasant Pinot with a fragrant nose. It’s about as by the book Sonoma Pinot in terms of character as you could ask for. It’s a little soft, but the fragrance and the midpalate will have you wondering who has been stealing wine from your glass.
I opened it yesterday after giving it a few days to sit, then put it in the fridge and tried it again today. I’d say it held up fairly well overnight but I do not think I’d put this down for long term aging. It’s a little too soft and it fell apart a little faster in my glass than wines you might hold on to for the long term. (10+ years). That said, I think it’s got a few years in it easily and it is exceedingly pleasant from the very first pour.
@novium
correct, the TA is tad low because we harvested in late Sept and early Oct. I would say 2 or 3 more aging will showcase tertiary aromas and fill in the palette. These Nalle Pinots are more like sweet spot aging in the 3 to 5 year range from vintage, so now, until 2028. Main thing, does it bring joy and go nicely with the meal.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2023 Nalle Hopkins Ranch Pinot Noir - $94 = 30.92%
It’s been a while since I made frequent trips to wine country (fixing that in the spring) but Nalle was usually a stop. Doug was still in charge (probably still is ha!) and Andrew was just coming on. Everything here is well done. Love the zins, they age incredibly well and always enjoyed the pinot and yes on the softer side as I recall. Guessing that’s due to the swan. And the 115? Sell it out and maybe they come back with some zin or cab
A box to SC, in October of course
@kaolis
The pinots harversted in Russian river tend to have less acid, ie TA or higher pH then the Dry Creek Zins I predominantly make. The 115 was harvested in late Sept. The 667 and Swan were in Oct.
Like the label. Reminds me of Williams Seylem for some reason
@losthighwayz yes we started the winery in 1984 and Williams Seylem looks like 1981
@losthighwayz
@losthighwayz across the Russian River from Williams Seylem too
@nallewinery Hopkins also made me think of Hop Kiln from back in the day! lol thanks for chiming in
This sounds great! One case on summer hold.
/giphy jellied-cagey-rain
FOMO is real here.
Here is my nerdy brain: I’m really curious when they picked this. My guess from how it tastes and the numbers is that it was mid October, though I could be wrong.
2023 was an exceptional vintage, long and very cool. Harvest was running about 6 weeks late, though the fruit did mature and was wonderful even as sugars stayed low. But there was one thing that caught a lot of winemakers: a brutal mid October heatwave that meant over a couple of days, fruit that was stubbornly sticking at 21 brix suddenly was in danger of cooking.
It led to a bit of fragility in some of the wines made at that stage. Catch it early enough and you’d still have all the wonderful aromatics that the long slow growing season won, but maybe less of the staying power.
@novium keep it flowing. this is the kind of wine talk that keeps us making wine from Russian River and Dry Creek
@nallewinery I like a lot of what this wine says about your approach stylistically. Do you have a similar approach to zinfandel? That is my favorite style for zin, though it’s hard to find, so I’m always on the look out! To me Zin is very similar to Pinot in someways, especially in how finicky and rewarding it is when made with care.
Yeah good one novium. Sept 25th half the lot, of the 115 clone was harvested at 23.0 brix and the other half, the 667 clone and Swan on Oct 3rd at ~23.1 brix. The subtle, complex fruitiness and spiced floral notes have been intriguing since this wine was in the François Frères, Demptos, Alain Fouquet, and Taransaud barrels.
@nallewinery thank you for indulging my curiosity.
@novium and Éclat barrels
Great winery participation. TY!
@dawnlac yep fire questions away, happy to answer!
Always a favorite!!!
@PetersonWinery Hey Peterson Winery!
This sounds like a wine I’d enjoy and I love the Vinter participation, but my cellar is close to capacity. I’ll think on it and perhaps grab the 3 pack tomorrow.
@user33071884 Hey, good news, you can order the summer hold version and have until October to clear some cellar space!
I never realized that the maps are different, one reflects ship now, the other ship later.
Sorry for the interruption
@kaolis yup
And one must also track both of them for sell-outs,
talk about bifurcation.
Russian River Pinot Noir for under $20/bottle? I can’t resist! In for a case. And fwiw, please keep your current label. So many wineries are changing their labels and not for the better!
It is so hard for me to pass up a local RRV Pinot Noir. No summer hold here as I am in the Bay
/giphy heavy-puny-gazelle