Robert Biale 'Black Chicken' Zinfandel 2021 (750ml)
Product price
$56.99
Description
Zinfandel grown in the cooler reaches of Napa Valley, around Oak Knoll, tends toward a more composed expression of a grape that can easily tip into excess. This is the 'Black Chicken' bottling from Robert Biale Vineyards, a 2021 Napa Zinfandel raised partly in new French oak (about a quarter of the barrels), which lends a measure of polish without burying the fruit.
Expect briary, brambly berry fruit threaded with red and black plum and a touch of strawberry, along with savory notes of tobacco and cigar leaf. It's full and creamy on the palate yet stays in balance, the tannins light, the texture seamless, with a faintly herbal tang trailing the finish. Ripe and seductive, but holding back from over-ripeness, it makes a strong case for what Napa Zinfandel can be when restraint is part of the plan.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Napa Valley |
| Varietal | Zinfandel |
| Producer | Robert Biale Vineyards |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Sourced primarily from Oak Knoll, the 2021 Zinfandel Black Chicken delivers briar-laced bramble-berry fruit, plus a decent dose of vanilla (maturation was in 25% new French oak). Full-bodied, it's creamy, ripe and lush, with a slightly herbal tang on the lingering finish. It's a balanced, seductive Zin, not over the top while still expressing intense varietal character. (Wine Advocate, December 2023)
Tobacco, cigar, red and black plums, and strawberry notes all emerge from the 2021 Zinfandel Black Chicken, a medium-bodied, elegant, seamless Zinfandel that has light tannins and a great finish. It's beautifully done and as seamless as they come. (Jeb Dunnuck, December 2023)