It is my pleasure to bring you one of California Zinfandel producers. The story of Robert Biale is an inspired history that utilizes 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 wines that are well-structured and bring a great sense of place.
At the helm is David Natali. 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.
David did an amazing job with the 2022 wines — one that was particularly difficult for Zin. His 2024s shone across the board.
Heck out the incredible 2024 ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 96) which is elegant, sleep and loaded with flavor range. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale.
2024 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Black Chicken’ is a killer entry level by Biale. On the nose this takes on black rose and smoky accents alongside orange rind and shades of cardamom. The palate is lush and mineral-driven with loads of stony and salty soil character, that mingle well with the black and red fruit melange. Drink 2026-2033- 93
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2024 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The storied R.W. Moore Vineyard is a historic site that dates back to 1905 when Zinfandel was first planted at this Coombsville location. This comes off powerful, concentrated and loaded with chocolate character alongside sea salt dusted black fruits with black rose water. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Robert Biale ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The outstanding ‘Morisoli Vineyard’ comes from the Rutherford appellation with vines dating back to 1985. Translucent in the glass, this offers loamy soils with dark florals, coffee grounds and shades of black licorice. The palate is lush and refined with serious texture and underlying tension. This is dense, decadent and refined Zinfandel that is a stunning wine to enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 96
2024 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The famed ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ is one of the acclaimed locations for Zinfandel in Sonoma County. This is a stunning edition of this wine, loaded with red and dark fruits with a great acid backbone. Cloves, tar and salty minerals complete this beautiful wine that is both powerful and highly poised. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 96
2023 Robert Biale ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ comes from this scenic, high elevation site set on volcanic soils. This is wonderfully rocky on the tongue, with loads of red fruits, tobacco leaf and fresh sage. Elegant and silky throughout the drinking experience, watch this evolve now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Robert Biale ‘Palisades Vineyard’ Petite Sirah- The 2024 ‘Palisades Vineyard’ Petite Sirah comes from a rocky hillside location above Calistoga. Inky in the glass, this offers gorgeous aromatics of espresso grounds, blueberry compote, graphite and herbal accents. The palate is dense and decadent with a refined texture and wonderful sense of weight and length. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2037- 95
2024 Robert Biale ‘Grande Vineyard’ Zinfandel- A historic site for Zinfandel, the 2024 ‘Grande Vineyard’ was founded by a Venetian immigrant back in 1920. This is jam-packed with coffee ground flavors alongside wet rock, loamy soils, wintergreen and chocolate tones on the palate. Elegant and soft on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Varozza Vineyard’ was sourced from this tiny vineyard in St. Helena, farmed Jack Varozza. Once on the nose this shows off coffee grounds and cocoa powder alongside heady red and dark fruits with sagebrush accents. This is once again very seamless throughout the drinking process, showing a heady combination of red and dark fruits, with Arabica bean and wintergreen notes on the palate. Drink 2026-2040- 96
2024 Robert Biale ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ Zinfandel- One of the great sites in Napa that I have visited, the ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ now sits inside a Napa neighborhood and has Zinfandel vines that date back to 1937. Heady red fruits mark the palate with dill, wet rock and shades of milk chocolate. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Robert Biale ‘Heminway Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Heminway Vineyard’ was sourced from this eastern location of the Napa Valley. This comes off lush and soft on the mouth, with great rocky soil character. Dark chocolate shavings, dried herbs and orange peel combine with bright freshness on the palate. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Robert Biale ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel was sourced from this location high up on Howell Mountain. Loganberry compote, chocolate, Mandarin orange rind and tobacco leaf flavors all parade on the palate, with excellent viscosity and verve. Medium to full-bodied, and loaded with stony minerals, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- The delicious and powerful 2024 ‘Royal Punishers’ is dark in the glass, offering aromatics of Asian spice and black tea on the nose alongside dense dark and blue fruits. The palate mirrors the nose, with concentrated blue fruits alongside stony accents and a graphite edge. Drink 2026-2033- 93
2024 Robert Blale ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Pagani Ranch’ was sourced from this ancient Sonoma County location that was planted all the way back in the 1920s. Once on the nose this shows cloves, tomato leaf and rich dark fruits alongside shades of black licorice. The palate is lush and concentrated with excellent power and a glorious core of dark chocolate and black fruits that combine with herbal and stony accents. This has both the power and verve to cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 95
2024 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Old Kraft’ comes from this site in St. Healena that dates back to the 1860s. The palate is filled with tension and flavor density.
Located in St. Helena, the Old Kraft Vineyard dates all the way back to the 1860s. This is soft and plush on the mouth, loaded with rich red and dark fruits alongside pipe tobacco and chocolate. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2024 Robert Biale ‘Party Line’ Zinfandel- The 2024 ‘Party Line’ comes from a range of locations spanning the state of California. It is dense and delicious stuff with a firm acid backbone and good concentration. White pepper, chocolate covered espresso bean, baking spices, orange zest and shades of salty minerals on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Robert Biale ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Coming from the Moon Mountain District, the Monte Rosso Vineyard is a high elevation site in Sonoma Valley and is planted to old vine Zinfandel and other varietals. This shows green herbal tones on the palate alongside black peppercorns, medium bodied red fruits and fresh sage. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2032- 92