You might not know that Zinfandel is one of the founding varietals of California. Long before Napa Cab hit its heyday, 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. I lhave loved these wines for years that are truly one of a kind and a throwback to old-school Zinfandel that shows not only good concentration but fantastic, bright acidity.
Winemaker David Natali is a New York native, David graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and developed a passion for winemaking after bottling at a friend’s small winery. He formerly served as cellar hand at Clos Pegase Winery and later studied at the University of Montpellier in France, where he received his master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. After two and a half years of living and studying abroad in Montpellier, France, and Udine, Italy, David returned to California. He became the Assistant Winemaker for La Rochelle Winery, later taking the Assistant Winemaker position at Robert Biale Vineyards. He managed the cellar and lab’s daily operations to implement new winemaking techniques under the guidance of Winemaker Tres Goetting. In 2022, David was promoted to Head Winemaker.
I adored the 2021 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (OB, 92) which is superb for the price and shows great tension with lovely milk chocolate tones. One of the best Zinfandel wines I have tried this year, the 2021 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 96) will go neck and neck with any Zinfandel made in California with its scintillating combination of flavor range, concentration and seamless mouthfeel. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale.
2022 Robert Biale Vineyards ‘Clementina’ White Wine- A unique white wine from the Oak Knoll AVA, the 2022 ‘Clementina’ shows bright acidity and a smooth texture with peach, green apple and copious minerals on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2021 Robert BIale Vineyards ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel- The 2020 ’Black Chicken’ comes from a range of vineyards in the Oak Knoll AVA. throughout Sonoma and Napa Valley. It is soft and refined on the mouth with juicy red and dark fruits that combine with shades of black tea on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2021 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2021 ‘Old Kraft’ is sourced from a St. Helena vineyard with vines planted in the 1890s. The wine comes off wonderfully smooth as it typically does throughout the experience. Sage, black currants, and dill notes combine with shades of milk chocolate on the palate. This shows wonderful poise and balance, with equally good concentration. Enjoy this beautiful Zin now and over the next decade. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The downright ancient ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ was planted back in1905. This is soft and elegant Zin that is simply impossible to resist right now. Roasted figs and dates combine with chocolate cake, loamy soils and shades of black licorice and baking spices on the palate. Dense and showing a smooth texture, without being heavy at all, this outstanding Zinfandel easily has another decade ahead of it. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The famed ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ dates all the way back to 1850s and is currently owned by the Peterson family. The palate is concentrated with a fantastic combination of dense red and dark fruit flavors. With more air notes of menthol and red rose water emerge, making this not only rich and layered but especially complex Zinfandel. Quite simply a knockout wine, this beauty will last for a decade or more — but why wait? Drink 2023-2033- 95
2021 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Always what I consider to be one of the great Zinfandel wines made in California, the 2021 Varozza Vineard comes from this location in Saint Helena which was planted over a century ago. The wine takes on an incredible elegance and great underlying verve. Red cherry candy, pipe tobacco, and red plum flavors combine with salty soil accents on the palate. Seamless, complex and delicious, this is a stunning bottling that is amongst the finest of its kind that I have tasted in the past year. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2021 Robert Biale ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ Zinfandel- This bottling comes from the Rutherford AVA and has Zinfandel vines that were planted back in 1985. The wine comes off very seamless and well-balanced. Loamy soils combine with red currants, black plum and tobacco leaf flavors on the palate, with baking spices. Showing a smooth texture and great sense of finesse and concentration, this is already singing. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- The 2021 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah is another fantastic edition of this bottling that will go neck and neck with anyone for the price. This is concentrated and delicious Petite Sirah with huckleberry and blueberry flavors that combine with dark chocolates shavings and fantastic underling tension. Very concentrated, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2023-2033- 93