2010 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken

Community Tasting Notes (73) Avg Score: 90.9 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View bdhanna's profile
  • Report Issue

  7/29/2023 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Wow, who says Zinfandel does not age well. Just lovely !!
  Perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle, easily removed. Consumed over two days. This balanced Zinfandel softens with air and develops nicely. Dark red color with little to no oxidation and good clarity. Aromas of blackberry and fig. Flavors of bramble berries, boysenberry black raspberry, and black currant. This gorgeous wine has a medium to long finish. This very special Zinfandel blend is sourced from vineyards in the Oak Knoll District in the Napa Valley. Great old vine fruit crafted by winemaker David Natali, Black Chicken Zinfandel is the flagship wine at Biale and has become a benchmark for the varietal. It all started in the 1940s when 14-year-old Aldo Biale helped his mother make ends meet by selling to insider Napa locals along with eggs and produce some of the family’s homemade Zinfandel. Over the old “party line” phone system, the code words “a Black Chicken” signified a jug of bootleg wine to keep nosy neighbors and the authorities from finding out about Aldo’s underground Zinfandel operation. This age worthy wine has a few more years of life left. Fortunately, I still have two bottles remaining in my cellar and plan to visit again soon to validate this tasting note.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View cos65's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/22/2022 - cos65 Likes this wine: 90 Points

  sb
  Huge full flavored, very high octane zin
  Soft opening and delicious with a ton of heat in the finish.
  Delicious and remarkable at 12 years old in this situation, but caution if this is not your style.
  
  This doesn’t seem to be in any danger of cracking up soon.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Senso-beak's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/5/2021 - Senso-beak wrote:

  Opened and poured. Unfair note, as a crown popped off earlier in the day and tasting this wine with an exposed crown left a twingy, odd feeling. Somewhat muted nose, but gains with air. Will have to update more on day two.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Senso-beak's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/21/2021 - Senso-beak wrote: 91 Points

  With Chili. Opened and poured. Explosive fruit cobbler, boysenberry nose. Roasted black fruits on the palate....toast, blackberry and lots of blueberry as well. Reminiscent of blueberry preserves spread over a slightly burnt piece of toast. Nice chicken.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View rhanke's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/18/2019 - rhanke wrote: 88 Points

  Agree with Insane. May be past its prime.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 73 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.