Today we share one of the great California Zinfandel producers. Robert Biale has a storied history in the Napa Valley. They source from some of the oldest Zinfandel sites in the area, producing wines with good ripeness but overall a focus on poise, flavor and aromatic range. These are a beautiful, restrained style of Zinfandel that would impress any Cabernet lover.
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. In 2022, David was promoted to Head Winemaker. While David replaced a world-class winemaker, he is making a name for himself at Biale. The last two sets of releases come from the difficult 2022 vintage which saw a heat dome at harvest which led to intense heat spikes and early picking decisions. Despite this David did an amazing job maintaining acidity in the wines. These are wines that are concentrated, plush and very enjoyable now.
I love the 2022 Robert Biale ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 95) which is a refined and very rocky effort from this location high atop the Napa Valley. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale.
2023 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel- The 2023 ‘Black Chicken’ was a code name for Zinfandel made by Aldo Biale during the Great Depression. This comes off beautifully performed with black florals that meld well with salty soils, orange peel and shades of wild blackberry. The palate is fresh and nicely textured with good minerality. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2023 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The R.W. Moore Vineyard dates all the way back to 1905 when Zinfandel was first planted at this Coombsville location. Bright red rose petals combine with shades of bramble, loamy soils and hints of milk chocolate all follow on the nose. The palate is fresh and neatly textured, showing a great sense of tension, as this is loaded with texture and salty minerals alongside well-defined dark fruits and chocolate. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Robert Biale ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The brilliant 2023 ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ Zinfandel is sourced from this Napa location in the Rutherford appellation. Translucent in the glass, this offers potpourri and black plum notes on the nose alongside orange peel and shades of coffee grounds. The palate is silky and refined with soft tannins that frame a glorious core of black and red fruits — with no rough edges. A gorgeous, elegant bottling that is already showing well, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 95
2023 Robert Biale ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2023 ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ is sourced from this high elevation site that overlooks the Napa Valley. Zinfandel vines are set on rocky soils here, as the wine begins with black tea and exotic spices on the nose alongside black florals and fresh tobacco notes. The palate is refined and elegant, with great rocky soil character and a smooth mouthfeel. Great to savor in its heady youth, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2037- 95
2022 Robert Biale ‘Palisades Vineyard’ Petite Sirah- The 2022 ‘Palisades Vineyard’ Petite Sirah is a stunning edition of this wine coming from this rocky spot above Calistoga. Blueberry compote and huckleberry flavors collide with graphite, dark chocolate shavings and shades of creme de violette on the palate. Full-boded, powerful and muscular, with a silky texture, enjoy this brazen beauty now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2038- 95
2023 Robert Biale ‘Grande Vineyard’ Zinfandel- An ancient site for California Zinfandel, the Grande Vineyard was planted by an immigrant from Venice, Theodore Grande, back in 1920. This shows some nice herbal undertone alongside milk chocolate, a dusting of fresh sage, and wild blackberry on the palate. Rich and generous, with salty undertones and a bright acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Consistently one of my favorite Zinfandel wines from California, the ‘Varozza Vineyard’ is set in St. Helena as this small site is farmed by Jack Varozza. This comes off seamless throughout the drinking experience, with a gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits alongside sweet pipe tobacco, baking spices, cocoa nibs and shades of coffee grounds on the palate. Silky and pillowy on the mouth, this is drinking marvelously now at the two year mark. Drink 2025-2037- 96
2023 Robert Biale ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The historic 2023 ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ comes from this tiny vineyard right outside the town of Napa in the Oak Knoll Vineyard. Zinfandel vines date back to 1937. Chocolate and oregano notes combine with fresh dill and loamy soils on the nose. The palate is plush and elegant with silky tannins that frame a great core of black and red fruits, with a chocolate edge. Juicy and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Robert Biale ‘Dickerson Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The Dickerson Vineyard wa splinted in the 1920s and is located in the St. Helena district. Translucent in the glass, this is silky throughout the drinking experience, with very pure red fruits that mingle well with chocolate, Arabica bean and copious minerals on the palate. Generous and loaded with freshness and texture, enjoy this beauty now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2023 Robert Biale ‘Heminway Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2023 ‘Heminway Vineyard’ comes from this location right on the eastern edge of Napa Valley. Red florals meld alongside espresso grounds and shades of orange peel on the nose. The palate is elegant and lively with bright acidity that combines with the soft mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Robert Biale ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel- Coming from Howell Mountain, the 2023 ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel offers rich red currants and strawberry notes on the nose alongside satsuma orange zest and flinty undertones on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant showing off its smooth texture. Great now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94