Winemaker Notes
The Oak Knoll winegrowing region is prevalent in this wine with its ripe aromatics and juicy acidity. The nose is full of vibrant Bing cherries, raspberries, cinnamon, white cake, fresh purple flowers, subtle dried herb, and toasty brown spices. The entry is bright and gives way to supple, round tannins. The lovely finish is the signature of this elegant and remarkably balanced Zinfandel that is immediately drinkable and worthy of 5 to 7 more years of cellar time.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The producer's marquee wine and a nod to its long-standing ties to farming, this is fresh and earthy in notes of crushed rock, slate, dried herb and black pepper. The fruit is layered and sumptuous in flavors of raspberry and black cherry, while supple tannins and a hint of toasted oak provide framing.
Editors' Choice -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel brings an alluring and delicious persistence onto the palate and into the wine's finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine is active and bright with red berries, blackberries, and earth in its aroma and flavors. Pair it with a pan-fried, bone-in, thick pork chop. (Tasted: November 18, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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.