Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rich, dense and jammy, with aromas of cherry pie and spice. The ripe, layered blackberry flavors show accents of smoky caramel, sage and licorice. For fans of big wines. Drink now through 2018. 6,000 cases made.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Ever since I can remember, I have always loved the Robert Biale Zinfandels. The 2012 Black Chicken is pretty fine. A big boy, no less, this one accurately depicts red raspberries that are wild and free-flowing; full bodied and extracted on the palate, this wine plays with fine elegance as it ends up with plenty of fruit in the end. Pair with grilled white meat on a rainy day.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.