1988 Nalle Zinfandel

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 88 points

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  2/19/2020 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  13,6% alcohol.
  
  Quite translucent some moderately developed cherry-red color with a brick-orange hue and a pale golden rim. Sweet, rich and moderately developed nose with juicy, fruit-forward aromas of stewed strawberries, some ripe boysenberries, a little bit of raspberry jam, light dried-fruit tones of figs and raisins and a savory hint of roasted meat. The wine is full-bodied, juicy and supple on the palate with a silky texture and developed flavors of ripe boysenberries, some peppery spice, a little bit of ripe plummy fruit, light raspberry jam tones, a hint of dried cherries and a tertiary touch of beef jerky. The wine is surprisingly high in acidity but there are no tannins to speak of. The finish is dry, slightly warm and quite fruit-forward with long flavors of ripe boysenberries, some wizened black cherries, light brambly notes of black raspberries, a hint of peppery spice and a touch of strawberry jam.
  
  A ripe, fruity and sweet-toned wine - exactly what you'd expect from a Zin - but also one in a remarkably good shape for a wine clocking at +30 years. Although the wine feels a tad soft and flabby without the tannic frame a wine of this size really calls for, the wine is still surprisingly fresh and wonderfully in balance thanks to the bright acidity. Although the wine might continue to develop for some years more, I really don't see much point in aging the wine, since it is drinking so well right now. A very nice effort for an aged Zin. Although my preference lies in wines with more tannins and less sweetness in the fruit, I found this one highly enjoyable.

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  6/13/2011 - Hodby wrote: 86 Points

  (Cull the cellar party) Light red-garnet, much bricking. Nose of raspberry, vanilla taffy, leather, pink peppercorn. Low tannin, medum-low acidity. Nice mouth feel and an elegant finish, the wine carries surprisingly fresh fruit ahead of secondary characteristics. Very nice wine. Bottle #12 of twelve.

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  12/18/2010 - pfc wrote: 84 Points

  Very thin--the life has left this one--but entirely drinkable; no spoilage or funk. Could taste the Nalle signature nonetheless. The '89 has been the best of the '88-'93 bottles I've scrounged up so far.

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