Staff Pick

Biale "Black Chicken" Zinfandel - 2021

Name: Biale "Black Chicken" Zinfandel
Brand: Biale
SKU: 20208
Price: 56.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Item # 20208 750mL

The Biale family, immigrants from Northern Italy, began growing grapes in Napa in the 1930’s – Zinfandel only. This is a spicy, rich Zinfandel with lots of ripe, dark fruits on the palate.

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Color

Red

Vintage

2021

Country

USA

Region

California

Sub-Region

Napa

Producer

Biale

Grape Variety

Zinfandel

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Staff Pick Notes

Round and plush with ripe tannins and aromas of red and dark fruit (raspberries, cherries, and blackberries) star anise, black and white pepper, cocoa, and subtle oak. After Aldo Biale’s father passed away in a quarry explosion, Aldo and his mother shouldered the burden of the farm. They grew walnuts, vegetables, fruit, and Zinfandel, and raised chickens while selling eggs as their main income. The Biale phone was a party line and neighbors could listen in on conversations. Aldo instituted the use of the code name “black chicken” for wine-buyers to use to keep the wine operation a secret. Drawing from his Italian heritage, where the Black Rooster symbolized the wines of Chianti, Aldo appropriately named the wine “black chicken”. Phone calls came in droves requesting any number of “black chickens” amongst their farm order.

- HH

Glossary

California

California makes more wine than any other state in the United States. Not only does the state grow a variety of noble grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are also plantings of lesser-known varieties such as Nebbiolo, Roussanne and Mourvèdre to name just a few.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel is widely thought of as “America’s grape,” but in fact the variety is of Croatian origin, and is genetically extremely similar to Italian Primitivo, which thrives in the warmest parts of southern Italy. Like Primitivo, Zinfandel requires warm but not hot growing conditions, as its skins are relatively thin: this can cause its berries to shrivel into raisins if left on the vine a little too long. Dry and well-drained terroirs are also preferable for Zinfandel, as its bunches are...