Biale Vineyards was founded by Robert Biale and his father Aldo in 1991. The winery was constructed later in 2005. Their focus is producing small lots of single vineyard, old vine Zinfandel from heritage sites. The portfolio consists of 20 wines produced under the guidance of winemaker David Natali.

Robert’s grandmother, Christina, in order to make extra money, would take phone orders on a shared party line at the house. Friends and neighbors would request eggs, fruit, and produce. The code word “black chicken” was used to secure a bottle of bootleg wine. Biale Vineyards would later produce a Black Chicken Zinfandel offering membership in the Black Chicken Society.

The majority of this wine is sourced from the Oak Knoll District near the family’s estate along with fruit from other growers in Napa Valley. This Zinfandel has a delicate ruby appearance and leans toward an elegant and inviting style. It displays a wealth of vibrant red fruits with wild strawberries, crème de cassis and red violet undertones. This is a finesse driven Zinfandel that hits every note in your mouth. It retains a rather intellectual charm and cerebral appeal throughout each sip. This wine took almost 24 hours to develop after opening, but be assured that all the components are there for immediate gratification.

By W Peter Hoyne