Robert Biale
One of the standout producers of California Zinfandel, Robert Biale has roots in the 1930s where Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on the Napa Valley floor. HIs son, Aldo, took over making wine during the Prohibition, using the code name ‘Black Chicken.’ Aldo’s Vineyard still stands today in Napa and is one of the premium vineyard sites that Robert Biale sources from, as well as esteemed spots like the Monte Rosso Vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard.
Winemaker Tres Goetting serves as Robert Biale winemaker, working alongside viticulturist Robert ‘Bob’ Biale. Tres has over 26 years of winemaking experience. HIs new releases were simply gorgeous. Check out the 2015 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (WWB, 92) which is a downright awesome value showing wonderful balance and red fruits. An amazing follow up to our top scoring Zinfandel of last year, the 2015 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel (WWB, 94) shows amazing balance and smoothness alongside minerality and dark fruits. This wine is a stunner. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale.
2015 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The Bedrock Vineyard is located in the Sonoma Valley and was first planted in 1850. The vineyard is now owned by the Peterson family. Showing off a dark color, this wine begins with aromatics of sage, black cherry, black olive and bramble elements. Leather, stewed strawberry, black cherry and black olive flavors show beautifully alongside some nice minerality. This has wonderful balance. Drink 2017-2027- 93
2015 Robert Biale 'Varozza Vineyard' Zinfandel- This gorgeous St. Helena vineyard has been farmed by the Varozza family since 1913. The Zinfandel starts with cigar box, black cherry, teaberry and coffee ground aromatics. There is a seamless quality to this wine, as the silky mouthfeel glides across the mid-palate. Boysenberry, black cherry, prune and milk chocolate flavors with a touch of orange rind impress. You have to love the flavor and aromatic range here. This seamless wine opens with aromatics of black plum, black cherry, prune and blackberry cobbler. This impossible to resist Zinfandel wine will give drinking pleasure for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2028- 94
2015 Robert Biale 'Limerick Lane Vineyard' Zinfandel- The Limerick Lane vineyard is located in the eastern part of the Russian River Valley vineyard and has gained a reputation for balanced wines, due to cool nights and large amounts fog. Showing a dark core, this has sweet pipe tobacco, black cherry and coffee ground aromatics.The aromas are rather intoxicating and bring you back to the glass for more. Stewed strawberry, loganberry liquor, bramble and black olive flavors are deep and penetrating. This has wonderful acidity and freshness, as well as purity of fruit. Drink 2017-2027- 94
2015 Robert Biale 'Stagecoach Vineyard' Zinfandel- One of the esteemed vineyards for Bordeaux varietals, the Stagecoach Vineyard also grows some excellent Zinfandel, as Biale had their ‘Biale Block’ planted there in 1999. Showing off a dark core, this has massive aromas of black cherry cough syrup, black tea, cigar box and milk chocolate shavings. There are deep flavors of black olive, black tea, black cherry, and Arabica coffee. This is dense and wonderfully poised. You have to admire this mouthfeel and balance created here from this vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 93
2015 Robert Biale 'Black Chicken' Zinfandel- ‘Black Chicken’ was first coined by Aldo Biale, who used the name as a code word when he began making wine in the 1940s. The 2015 ‘Black Chicken’ by Biale follows up the gorgeous ’14 botting and is an awesome value wine from this great Napa winery. This densely colored wine begins with bright aromatics of red currant, red cherry and ripe cherry tomato jam. The mid-palate mouthfeel is lovely as the wine currently showcases black cherry, black raspberry liquor and pipe tobacco flavors that sit alongside some nice minerality. Drink 2017-2024- 92
2015 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard' Zinfandel-This ancient vineyard in St. Helena dates back to the 1860s. This expressive, semi-translucent Zinfandel wine starts with bright aromas of black plum, ripe strawberry, Earl Grey tea and suggestions of Mandarin orange rind. The wine shows a plush mouthfeel, leading to ripe flavors of black olive, black tea, baking spices, black cherry compote and nutmeg. Medium weight, this has wonderful poise in this hot vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2015 Robert Biale ‘Basic Black’ Red Wine- A compelling blend of 25% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 20% Petite Sirah, 17% Carignane, 8% Zinfandel, 5% Alicante Bouchet and 3% Tempranillo all sourced from Sonoma County. Possessing a brooding, dark core, this wine begins with heady aromas of dark chocolate covered cherries, roasted figs, cigar box and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is plush, as this wine reveals dark fruit flavors alongside dark chocolate, creosote and white pepper flavors. With wonderful fruit weight and minerality, is just an outstanding blend made by Biale. Drink 2017-2027- 93
2015 Robert Biale ‘Like Father Like Son’ Red Wine- The ‘Like Father Like Son’ by Robert Biale is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah. This penetrating, inky colored wine opens with a bouquet of pencil shavings, mocha, blackberry cobbler, tar and black olive tapenade. The mouthfeel and structure impresses, as the wine showcases sweet pipe tobacco, blackberry pie, smoke, coffee ground and Hoisin sauce flavors. This lovely blend will cellar marvelously for a decade. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2015 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- One of the best wines in their terrific lineup is the 2015 ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah. Deep and intense colored, this begins with a ripe aromatic profile of crushed mint, black cherry pie, mocha and tar. The texture to this wine is simply marvelous. Blackberry pie, mocha and dark chocolate flavors impress. Seductive and downright delicious, this marvelous bottling will drink well into the next decade as this is another stunner by Biale. Drink 2017-2025- 93