Winemaker Wednesday: Tudal Winery – Napa, CA.

Welcome to binNotes new monthly series: Winemaker Wednesday. Today’s winemaker: Tudal Winery – Napa, CA.

by L.M. Archer, FWS

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Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio making his annual pilgrimage to Tudal Winery to taste his favorite ‘cult cabs.’ | Image: Courtesy flikr.com

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Cerruti Cellars 2010 Flat Bed Red Zinfandel. | Image: Courtesy Tudal Wine Group.

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Napa Valley’s Tudal Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc | Image: Courtesy Tudal Wine Group.

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Napa Valley’s Tudal Winery 2011 Salvador’s Selection Chardonnay| Image: Courtesy Tudal Wine Group.

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Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio’s onfield ritual rarely varied: he always ran from outfield to touch second base before heading back into the dugout. ‘Joltin’ Joe’s’ off-field rituals rarely varied, too – including his annual pilgrimage to Tudal Winery for a taste of his favorite ‘cult cabs.’

Recently, binNotes sat down with owner Felicia Lett Tudal at Purple Wine Cafe and Bar | Bellevue to discuss Tudal Winery’s unique heritage in Napa Valley.

I. History

The story of Tudal Winery begins and ends with dirt.

At the end of World War II, Navy vet Arnold “Lucky” Tudal lived up to his nickname when he married into Alma Cerruti’s Alameda, CA. family business – truck farming.

In 1979, Arnold and Alma ‘retired’ from the produce business to a quiet ten-acre ranch on a former walnut orchard near St. Helena, CA.

Napa neighbor Louis P. Martini of Louis M. Martini Winery fame admired Tudal’s plot of land, advising him “You grow Cabs, and I’ll buy them.”
Luck struck again when Tudal took Martini up on the suggestion. In 1979, Tudal Winery sold its first commercial wine. One of Tudal Winery’s earliest and most ardent fans: Joe DiMaggio.

In 2001, Arnold’s son John and his wife Felicia Fett Tudal took over the winery, forming Tudal Wine Group, and attracting a strong core team of vineyard and business specialists.

II. Team Tudal

Today’s Tudal Winery team includes winemaker Ron Vuylsteke, whose family owns famed Oak Knoll Winery in Oregon, and consulting winemakers Kurt Venge and Rudy Zuidema. Vuylsteke learned his craft under the likes of wine hall-of-famers André Tchelistcheff, Christian Moueix of Chateau Pétrus and Dominus, and Dan Duckhorn. Zuidema earned his time at bat through stints in Australia with Ben Riggs of Wirra Wirra Winery, and back home with Napa greats Dennis Johns of St. Clement Vineyards and White Cottage Rand, and James Hall of Patz and Hall.

Rudy Zuidema explains what makes Tudal Winery different from Napa’s other 500-plus wineries:
“…There’s a rustic soul that is in the core of the fruit that comes out of the old vine vineyards that is the only reason I’m at Tudal. You don’t taste profession and polish. You cannot buy history and legacy.”

With his team in place, John branched out. Following Arnold Tudal’s death in 2006, John created a second label honoring Alma Tudal’s father – Cerruti Cellars. John broke protocol again by opening Cerruti Cellars’ tasting room in Oakland’s hip urban Jack London Square, far from upscale Napa Valley – and attracting an entirely new generation of wine lovers to his family’s wine.

Today, Matt Tudal Fidge represents the fourth generation of wine makers at Tudal Winery as assistant wine maker, helping with production from some of California’s oldest vines. Moreover, Tudal Winery’s deep roots in the community provide sourcing for enviable high-quality fruit used in non-estate wines. These vineyards include Bauciagalupi Vineyard in Russian River Valley and Gibson Vineyard in Carneros for Pinot Noir, Maldonado Vineyard in Napa Valley for Chardonnay, Carpernter Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena for old vine Sauvignon Blanc, and The Clift Vineyard for Cabernet Sauvignon.

II. Tudal Wines: 4 Generations, 3 Wine Series, 2 Wine Labels, 1 Heritage

Tudal Wine Group represents four generations of wine makers offering wine drinkers three wine series from two labels, all sharing one unique heritage. These wines include:

1. Winery Icon Series: Cerruti Cellars value wines, featuring unique heritage ‘icon’ labels. Production: ~25,000 cases annually.

2011 Tractor Shed Red, CA. $15
2012 Honker Blanc, Napa Valley $14
2010 Flat Bed Zinfandel, CA. $15
2010 Rag Top Red, CA. $18

2. Vineyard Series: Tudal Family limited production world-class wines. Limited Production.

2012 Tudal Family Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley $19
2011 Tudal Family Salvador’s Selection Chardonnay $23
2010 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley & Sonoma $28
2010 Tudal Family Napa Valley Cuvée $24
2011 Tudal Family Gibson Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma $40
2010 Tudal Family Clift vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $65
2009 Tudal Family Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $55

3. Signature Series: Tudal Family Estate Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon. Highly coveted. Limited production.

2009 Tudal Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $85
2009 Tudal Family Legacy Lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $115

Note: You’ll need to contact the winery to determine availability of the small production Vineyard and Signature series. Prices listed are SRP.

Tasting Notes:
At the end of our interview, it was time to taste. This time, the wines did all the talking.

The following pours graciously provided by Tudal Winery.

2012 Tudal Family Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Appellation: St. Helena, Napa Valley
Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyards: Various
Barrel Aging: Stainless
Alcohol: 14.2%
Pale straw yellow color, light body, balanced, aromas of white flowers, grapefruit, and herbaceous backnotes.
Note: Some calcium tartrate settlement present at the base of the bottle, which did not impact flavor.

2011 Tudal Family Salvador’s Selection Chardonnay
Stainless Steel Fermented
Alcohol: 14.2%
Golden color, pear, citrus aromas with backnotes of spice and nut, medium body.

2010 Flat Bed Zinfandel, CA.
Appellation: Sonoma County
Composition: 100% Zinfandel
Vineyards: Geyserville
Oak Regimen: various age oak barrels
Barrel Aging: 12-18 months
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purpled dark red color, aromas of dried fruit, cocoa and clove. Medium body, soft tannins, good balance and lightly lingering finish.

2010 Baci’s Bin 32 Red Blend:
Blend: 60% Sangiovese / 20% Cabernet Sauvignon / 7% Petit Sirah / 6.5% Zinfandel / 6.5% Merlot
Barrels: Neutral Oak
Barrel Aging: 15 months
Alcohol: 14.0%
Deep purple-red hue, dark fruit,vegetative,slightly woody notes,full-bodied, smooth tannins,long finish.

Sadly, binNotes did not get to try Tudal Winery’s Pinot Noir.

For more on Tudal Winery, enjoy this video interview with The Wine Down:

Video: Courtesy Wine Down.

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Thank you:

Felicia Lett Tudal, Proprietor – Tudal Wine Group

Rudy Zuidema, Consulting Winemaker – Tudal Wine Group

Chris Horn – Wine Director, Purple Wine Cafe and Bar

Carl Giavanti

Alan Goldfarb

Filed under: Cabernet Sauvignon, California Wineries, Wine Maker, Wine Tasting Tagged: Cabernet Sauvignon, cerruti cellars, jack london square, napa valley, sonoma valley, tudal wine group, tudal winery, winemaker