Friday Night Brown Bagger (J&J's): Double blind. Dark color with notes of raspberry, licorice and peppery spice. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of mixed red and black berry fruits, licorice and herbs. Long finish dominated by ripe black raspberry and spice. perhaps a touch of brett in here adding some complexity to the abundant fruit. Delicious.
As an aside, Domino and I happened to be in Napa in Oct '11 and visited Biale just before the rains hit- three consecutive days of rain were in the forecast and Biale harvested in thre few days prior. We drove up to find the parking lot had been commandeered to store bins of the just-harvested grapes. With everything coming in all at once, they had simply run out of room. (R&D)
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This 2011 vintage has no major impact from age. The fruit might be more red generic, than bright, but they are still present. Finishes dry and a bit tannic.
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What a wonderful surprise! Dark fruit is complemented by underbrush and wild herbs. The wine is so balanced. More savory than fruit forward due to the vintage more so than the age. What a pleasant surprise.
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A little bit of a slow start, but really opened up well after a couple of hours and even the next day. Probably liked the Old Kraft somewhat better, but this also was a very nice combo of acidity, alcohol fruit and body. In a great spot.
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Second night with this bottle ...and, ...wow, this has fallen off a cliff. The structure of the wine has begun to disintegrate. The tannins are now gone and what's left is a diluted late harvest zinfandel. Sweet, cloying plum with longish finish. All in @ 24 hours. This will not last. Drink all you have now, and at the first sitting.
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Still youthful though a hint of aging on the rim. In the battle between fruit vs tannins, tannins win, they remain very strong. Good berry flavor with lots of pepper. Good to strong berry flavors with long finish. Delicious. This is good now and may have been better 1-2 years ago. My concern is that the tannins will outlive the fruit and never quite achieve balance. My opinion is: drink what you have now.. the risk in waiting is that the fruit evaporates and only tannins remain. FYI, LOA (lots of alcohol: ABV=15.8%)
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15.8% abv. Dark purple coloration with viscosity. This wine could be described as sweet (a product of the ripe dark berries) or sweet! for the immediate pleasure it gives the drinker. Succulent ripe berries. It carries the high alcohol fairly well but is not everyone's style. I opened this to decide if I want to order the Biale Monte Rosso in the latest vintage to be made available on the mailing list. I am trying to cut back on wine orders, but if I place an order with Biale, I may include the Monte Rosso.
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Absolutely delicious. Easily drinkable, I imagine any level wine drinker would love this. Enjoyable, with plenty of complexity to back it up. Makes me want to drink more Zin. One of my new favorite producers.
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Vineyard is in the Mayacamas range. Nose shows floral components, rose petals, strawberry, raspberry seeds. Palate has more jamminess than other Biale. Layered raspberry, juicy blackberry, dried strawberry. Spice is there, some light tannins on the back, more layers in the finish. This is a pretty style, not overly jammy, and Biale is consistent that way. ~500 cases made.
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I think it's perhaps in a dumb stage or we tasted from an off bottle. Didn't do much for me. Structure was good though. Just indistinct flavors and aromas, which is uncharacteristic of Monte Rosso.
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Liked it immediately. Got to get more. Terrific zinfandel. The wine looks rosy colored. It smells like raspberry and red currants. The body is medium. Polished texture.
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6/17/2022 - AllRed wrote:
Friday Night Brown Bagger (J&J's): Double blind. Dark color with notes of raspberry, licorice and peppery spice. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of mixed red and black berry fruits, licorice and herbs. Long finish dominated by ripe black raspberry and spice. perhaps a touch of brett in here adding some complexity to the abundant fruit. Delicious.
As an aside, Domino and I happened to be in Napa in Oct '11 and visited Biale just before the rains hit- three consecutive days of rain were in the forecast and Biale harvested in thre few days prior. We drove up to find the parking lot had been commandeered to store bins of the just-harvested grapes. With everything coming in all at once, they had simply run out of room. (R&D)
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1/24/2022 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pepper, spice and homemade pepperoni pizza. Oh my. 😎
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5/11/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted (not really necessary) for an hour. Good fruit and color, no pepper, soft finish. Drink
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2/11/2021 - SacFrench Likes this wine: 90 Points
This 2011 vintage has no major impact from age. The fruit might be more red generic, than bright, but they are still present. Finishes dry and a bit tannic.
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11/1/2020 - wbduval Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very nicely. Big wine, of course, but well rounded and balanced.
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9/15/2019 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 91 Points
What a wonderful surprise! Dark fruit is complemented by underbrush and wild herbs. The wine is so balanced. More savory than fruit forward due to the vintage more so than the age. What a pleasant surprise.
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7/6/2018 - nicholasoh8 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The reason I love zins. Large fruit and dry. 7 years in smooth and earthy
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1/1/2018 - spdflyfshr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plums, pepper, pucker (tannin). Nice nose and long finish. Drink now.
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2/27/2017 - kenthargis wrote: 91 Points
A little bit of a slow start, but really opened up well after a couple of hours and even the next day. Probably liked the Old Kraft somewhat better, but this also was a very nice combo of acidity, alcohol fruit and body. In a great spot.
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2/2/2017 - In vino potestus est wrote: 84 Points
Second night with this bottle ...and, ...wow, this has fallen off a cliff. The structure of the wine has begun to disintegrate. The tannins are now gone and what's left is a diluted late harvest zinfandel. Sweet, cloying plum with longish finish. All in @ 24 hours. This will not last. Drink all you have now, and at the first sitting.
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2/1/2017 - In vino potestus est Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still youthful though a hint of aging on the rim. In the battle between fruit vs tannins, tannins win, they remain very strong. Good berry flavor with lots of pepper. Good to strong berry flavors with long finish. Delicious. This is good now and may have been better 1-2 years ago. My concern is that the tannins will outlive the fruit and never quite achieve balance. My opinion is: drink what you have now.. the risk in waiting is that the fruit evaporates and only tannins remain. FYI, LOA (lots of alcohol: ABV=15.8%)
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8/9/2015 - qcwino wrote:
Black cherry, a little cola, tons of sweet tobacco leaf. Not flabby or jammy at all. Nice zin.
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7/23/2015 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious, full bodied, smooth and rich black fruit flavors. Great wine. No heat
, a medium finish.
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9/14/2014 - wondersofwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
15.8% abv. Dark purple coloration with viscosity. This wine could be described as sweet (a product of the ripe dark berries) or sweet! for the immediate pleasure it gives the drinker. Succulent ripe berries. It carries the high alcohol fairly well but is not everyone's style. I opened this to decide if I want to order the Biale Monte Rosso in the latest vintage to be made available on the mailing list. I am trying to cut back on wine orders, but if I place an order with Biale, I may include the Monte Rosso.
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3/4/2014 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Decanted, but still youthful. Nice blackberry and raspberry flavors.
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2/8/2014 - The Bouncer wrote:
Did not disappoint! Was every bit a 94+, excellent wine!
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12/30/2013 - NickHBailey wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely delicious. Easily drinkable, I imagine any level wine drinker would love this. Enjoyable, with plenty of complexity to back it up. Makes me want to drink more Zin. One of my new favorite producers.
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11/5/2013 - GTFreek wrote:
Vineyard is in the Mayacamas range. Nose shows floral components, rose petals, strawberry, raspberry seeds. Palate has more jamminess than other Biale. Layered raspberry, juicy blackberry, dried strawberry. Spice is there, some light tannins on the back, more layers in the finish. This is a pretty style, not overly jammy, and Biale is consistent that way. ~500 cases made.
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10/25/2013 - vegasoenophile wrote: 87 Points
I think it's perhaps in a dumb stage or we tasted from an off bottle. Didn't do much for me. Structure was good though. Just indistinct flavors and aromas, which is uncharacteristic of Monte Rosso.
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10/18/2013 - mjhawes Likes this wine: 95 Points
Liked it immediately. Got to get more. Terrific zinfandel.
The wine looks rosy colored. It smells like raspberry and red currants. The body is medium. Polished texture.
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9/20/2013 - Silveradoup wrote: 96 Points
Awesome monte rosso zin. Amazing!
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