Red and dark fruit mingle with Forest floor and wandering spices. Everything dances together so gracefully. The texture and the nose are equally as good. My favorite Biale single vineyard Zinfandel.
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Had with Thanksgiving dinner. Decanted for 3 hours. Nice color and legs. Jammy fruit up front with well integrated soft tannins and a nice peppery/spicy finish. This wine is drinking beautifully right now. I can't imagine this improving much more. A very well built Napa Zin with a lot of finesse. A very nice effort by Biale.
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The first night decanted for about an hour, I was surprised at what I was drinking in comparison to the price. Definitely jammy and extracted. Red and black fruit combo, with a bit of alcohol. I tend to think that zinfandel is a beast that needs to be tamed by a master, and this one needs a master to tame it. Not a lot to get excited about, yet I was hopeful for day 2 under argon. Nope, day 2 was more of the same but even less exciting and more alcohol. In fact, it was at the same temp as day 1 but seemed even hotter. Popping it in the refrigerator helped the alcohol/heat but the lack of any structure/acidity/balance was quite evident. So all in all, this is very average in quality, with the pluses and minuses canceling out leaving you right in the middle of the pack (like many $8-10 bottles). As an aside, I'm wondering if Napa is the right location to grow zinfandel. Maybe too much sunshine.
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Poured through Vinturi for splash decant ... A lovely, light-handed Cali Zin. Fruit prominent, but not over-powering. Touches of vanilla and spice. Very nice but a fairly poor QPR. I really like Biale's wines, but think they've gotten to the point where they've priced themselves out of the market. (At least our market.) Too much Zin out there that is similar quality, for half the per bottle/cost.
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This was a beauty. Very nicely structured and balanced. Not an over the top jammy Zin but still very full bodied and berry fruit driven. Very well done.
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Four hour decant, as all Biale's need. Deep floral and extracted red concentrate. Blueberry compote. Depth of flavor is rediculous. Great balance for a fruit driven wine. No sign of alcohol. And @ 15.5, that's quite an accomplishment.
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2012 ZAP-time to prepare for the 25th ZAP Event. Nose of black fruit, blackberry, more of the same on the palate, very tasty, almost overripe fruit, like a blackberry tart, slightly creamy and rich, long finish.
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7/30/2016 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Red and dark fruit mingle with Forest floor and wandering spices. Everything dances together so gracefully. The texture and the nose are equally as good. My favorite Biale single vineyard Zinfandel.
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7/11/2015 - jermsd wrote: 89 Points
Past its prime. Needs decanting and to sit a bit and then the fruit and spice come out
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11/27/2014 - Bodyfxr wrote: 92 Points
Had with Thanksgiving dinner. Decanted for 3 hours. Nice color and legs. Jammy fruit up front with well integrated soft tannins and a nice peppery/spicy finish. This wine is drinking beautifully right now. I can't imagine this improving much more. A very well built Napa Zin with a lot of finesse. A very nice effort by Biale.
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11/1/2014 - skinut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big red and dark fruit nose. Ripe without sweetness. Soft on the palate and pleasant lingering finish.
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4/6/2014 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
The first night decanted for about an hour, I was surprised at what I was drinking in comparison to the price. Definitely jammy and extracted. Red and black fruit combo, with a bit of alcohol. I tend to think that zinfandel is a beast that needs to be tamed by a master, and this one needs a master to tame it. Not a lot to get excited about, yet I was hopeful for day 2 under argon. Nope, day 2 was more of the same but even less exciting and more alcohol. In fact, it was at the same temp as day 1 but seemed even hotter. Popping it in the refrigerator helped the alcohol/heat but the lack of any structure/acidity/balance was quite evident. So all in all, this is very average in quality, with the pluses and minuses canceling out leaving you right in the middle of the pack (like many $8-10 bottles). As an aside, I'm wondering if Napa is the right location to grow zinfandel. Maybe too much sunshine.
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12/27/2013 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Poured through Vinturi for splash decant ... A lovely, light-handed Cali Zin. Fruit prominent, but not over-powering. Touches of vanilla and spice. Very nice but a fairly poor QPR. I really like Biale's wines, but think they've gotten to the point where they've priced themselves out of the market. (At least our market.) Too much Zin out there that is similar quality, for half the per bottle/cost.
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5/27/2013 - stevenp22 wrote: 91 Points
Nice, popped and poured and it was ready to go. Great casual wine.
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3/21/2013 - oeno1820 wrote: 92 Points
Layered & nuanced.
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2/23/2013 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sweet, somewhat cloying. No real tannin. Still smooth. A lot of raspberry and blueberry on the palate as well.
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2/22/2013 - cmr Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a beauty. Very nicely structured and balanced. Not an over the top jammy Zin but still very full bodied and berry fruit driven. Very well done.
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2/13/2013 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Four hour decant, as all Biale's need. Deep floral and extracted red concentrate. Blueberry compote. Depth of flavor is rediculous. Great balance for a fruit driven wine. No sign of alcohol. And @ 15.5, that's quite an accomplishment.
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11/22/2012 - oeno1820 wrote: 90 Points
Tastes a little juice-like thin at first, but opens to a fuller expression of spice and earth.
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7/27/2012 - Backdoctor wrote: 91 Points
nice jammy nose, very balanced on opening the bottle. It was smooth, and opened up nicely in the glass.
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1/28/2012 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
2012 ZAP-time to prepare for the 25th ZAP Event. Nose of black fruit, blackberry, more of the same on the palate, very tasty, almost overripe fruit, like a blackberry tart, slightly creamy and rich, long finish.
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